Photo: Ferrari
The Italian automaker basically reveals its real 'feelings' about the hybrid powertrain of the Ferrari 296 introduced in 2021: it's too bulky for track activities like the 2024 season of the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli!
The single-brand motorsport championship was created three decades ago, in 1993, originally catering to affluent customers who wished to play with their 348 Challenge models on the track. The inaugural season took place that year, quickly followed by the North American one in 1994 and today the series also has events in Japan and the United Kingdom.
Additionally, there have been eight cars to date featured in the championship: Ferrari 348, F355, 360, F430, 458, 458 Evo, 488, and 488 Evo – all sporting the Challenge moniker, of course. Now, back to back with the introduction of the bonkers Ferrari 499P Modificata (a limited-series sports prototype for non-competition track us), there's a ninth model in Ferrari's Challenge Trofeo Pirelli.
The all-new Ferrari 296 Challenge may be derived from the 296 GTB Berlinetta sports car presented in 2021, but it's also vastly different from the technical standpoint. While the street version is powered by a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 (their first use on a stock model of the setup), it also combines the 654-hp ICE mill with electric motors for a total of 819 electrified ponies. It's also a PHEV, so there is an all-electric range of up to 25 km (16 miles) available for urban zero-emission zones.
However, for the Ferrari 296 Challenge, the plug-in hybrid powertrain was deemed too bulky. As such, even though it's not as powerful as the 296 GTB, now there's no more electric assistance. Alas, it also "introduces substantial power unit, aero, and vehicle dynamics modifications" for the first-ever use of a six-cylinder-powered model in the Challenge series. As such, no one should be surprised by the record-breaking power output of 700 ps or 690 hp, which is 234 ps or 231 hp per liter of displacement.
Other noteworthy details include the model's official presentation at the 2023 Ferrari Finali Mondiali at the Mugello Circuit in Italy, along with its track debut during the 2024 season, first within the European and North American series. The 296 Challenge pumps a massive 546 pound-feet (740 Newton-meters) of torque, and "with great power comes great responsibility," so Ferrari modified about everything, including the vehicle dynamics, the aero features, as well as the cockpit and safety features.
Interestingly, although it's intended for track use only, the 296 Challenge still has optional goodies like the removable passenger seat, the LTE antenna – which is actually compulsory since there's a mandatory Marshalling function in the future of the Challenge championship, exhaust silencers for tracks with noise restrictions, and more. According to Ferrari, from the 2025 season all Challenge series will have access to the new model.
Additionally, there have been eight cars to date featured in the championship: Ferrari 348, F355, 360, F430, 458, 458 Evo, 488, and 488 Evo – all sporting the Challenge moniker, of course. Now, back to back with the introduction of the bonkers Ferrari 499P Modificata (a limited-series sports prototype for non-competition track us), there's a ninth model in Ferrari's Challenge Trofeo Pirelli.
The all-new Ferrari 296 Challenge may be derived from the 296 GTB Berlinetta sports car presented in 2021, but it's also vastly different from the technical standpoint. While the street version is powered by a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 (their first use on a stock model of the setup), it also combines the 654-hp ICE mill with electric motors for a total of 819 electrified ponies. It's also a PHEV, so there is an all-electric range of up to 25 km (16 miles) available for urban zero-emission zones.
However, for the Ferrari 296 Challenge, the plug-in hybrid powertrain was deemed too bulky. As such, even though it's not as powerful as the 296 GTB, now there's no more electric assistance. Alas, it also "introduces substantial power unit, aero, and vehicle dynamics modifications" for the first-ever use of a six-cylinder-powered model in the Challenge series. As such, no one should be surprised by the record-breaking power output of 700 ps or 690 hp, which is 234 ps or 231 hp per liter of displacement.
Other noteworthy details include the model's official presentation at the 2023 Ferrari Finali Mondiali at the Mugello Circuit in Italy, along with its track debut during the 2024 season, first within the European and North American series. The 296 Challenge pumps a massive 546 pound-feet (740 Newton-meters) of torque, and "with great power comes great responsibility," so Ferrari modified about everything, including the vehicle dynamics, the aero features, as well as the cockpit and safety features.
Interestingly, although it's intended for track use only, the 296 Challenge still has optional goodies like the removable passenger seat, the LTE antenna – which is actually compulsory since there's a mandatory Marshalling function in the future of the Challenge championship, exhaust silencers for tracks with noise restrictions, and more. According to Ferrari, from the 2025 season all Challenge series will have access to the new model.
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