The 2023 Ferrari 296 GT3 Is Proof That Supercars Don't Need V8 Engines to Sound Cool

But while the V8s and V12s are being prepared for the history books, other high-performance gasoline engines will be around for a while longer, especially in hybrids. Ferrari, for instance, has already adopted a twin-turbo V6/electric setup for its entry-level model, the 296. It also debuted the V6 as a standalone propulsion unit in the race-spec GT3. And based on the compilation below, the Tipo F163 CE mill sounds downright fabulous when running at full throttle.

Introduced in 2022, the 296 GT3 replaced the 488 GT3 for the 2023 racing season. The latter soldiered on for a whopping seven years because Ferrari did not create a racing version of its successor, the F8 Tributo. So while the 296 did not replace the 488 (or the F8) on public roads, Ferrari chose to use the entry-level supercar as its primary GT3-spec weapon.

Stripped of all plug-in hybrid components, the 296 GT3 hit the race track with a twin-turbo V6 mill rated 592 horsepower and 524 pound-feet (710 Nm) of torque. While not as powerful as its road-going sibling (652 horses with the V6 and 819 horsepower as a hybrid), the GT3 sticks better to the ground thanks to an aggressive aero package that increases downforce by 20%.

Ferrari also fitted the GT3 version with a different transmission. Specifically, the dual-clutch gearbox was removed to make way for a six-speed sequential unit with a rotary e-shift actuator gearshift and e-clutch actuator with paddles on the steel wheel. Finally, the GT3 is notably lighter than the road-going 296 at 1,250 kg (2,756 pounds). That's 220 kg (485 pounds) shed through lightweight components and the removal of the hybrid system.

Ferrari's first mid-engined V6 race car since the Dino-based series of the 1960s, the 296 GT3 debuted at the 2023 24 Hours of Daytona. Of the four vehicles fielded, only one finished the grueling endurance race, placing 32nd overall and 10th in the GTD category. In May, however, the 296 GT3 won the 24 Hours of Nurburgring and set a new distance record on the German track. In 2024, the 296 GT3 will be joined by the 296 Challenge, which will replace the 488 Challenge Evo.

But that's enough talk for today. Hit the play button below to watch several 296 GT3s flexing their V6 muscles at Monza Circuit. The footage was shot during various testing days and the 12 Hours of Monza race. Be on the lookout for downshifts because they sound pretty exciting.