Watch the Ferrari 296 Lap Nevers Magny-Cours Faster Than a 992 Porsche 911 GT3 RS

With Motorsport Magazine driver Nicolas Gourdol behind the wheel, the Ferrari 296 GTS Assetto Fiorano required 1:15.47 to finish a lap of the circuit. Only two cars are faster still, those cars being the high-revving Corvette Z06 (1:15.23) and the now-discontinued McLaren Senna (1:14.93).

Both the C8 and 991 GT3 RS posted the aforementioned lap times on Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires, whereas the Senna rocked Trofeo Rs from Pirelli. This being said, it should be noted that Ferrari’s twin-turbo V6 supercar is a RWD plug-in hybrid rather than exclusively internal combustion.

The way its electric motor delivers torque makes a world of difference in pretty much every imaginable scenario. Think corner exit and – if you’re into drag racing – from a dig. The GTS in 296 GTS Assetto Fiorano stands for spider, which means a little more weight than the Berlinetta-bodied 296 GTB.

According to the French motoring publication, the Assetto Fiorano-equipped car in the featured clip weighs 1,646 kilograms (make that 3,629 pounds). While it may seem like too much, remember that every single road-going 296 is equipped with a 7.45-kWh battery and a 122-kW electric motor.

The 992, by comparison, tips the scales at 1,450 kilograms (3,197 pounds) because it’s purely internal combustion (4.0-liter boxer six-cylinder lump of the naturally-aspirated variety). The Senna is lighter still, with McLaren quoting 1,309 kilograms (3,064 pounds; as per the DIN standard).

Care to guess what Assetto Fiorano means in Ferrari vernacular? As it happens, the Prancing Horse refers to a go-faster package that includes a LaFerrari-style active spoiler integrated into the rear bumper. That spoiler alone generates 360 kilograms (794 pounds) of downforce at 250 kph (155 mph).

Approximately 15 kilograms (33 pounds) lighter than the 296 GTS, the Assetto Fiorano includes a Lexan rear window, more carbon fiber inside and outside, and the Cup 2 Rs we’ve touched upon earlier. Another big change over the standard specification comes in the guise of Multimatic adjustable shock absorbers inspired by the world of GT racing.

Multimatic is the Canadian outfit that makes the world-famous DSSV (Dynamic Suspensions Spool Valve) dampers. Remember the Aston Martin One-77 and fifth-gen Camaro Z/28? Both of them came standard with Multimatic’s phenomenal dampers.

Turning our attention back to the car, are you curious how much a 296 GTS costs? The answer is $371,139 in the US market, whereas the 296 GTB is $342,205 before options. A bit expensive at first glance, but then again, bear in mind the Ferrari 296 sports the most incredible V6 in production today.

Not only does it sound like a mini-V12, but it’s ridiculously powerful for 3.0 liters of displacement (not 2.9 as implied by the 296 moniker). The 120-degree V6 outputs 663 metric ponies at full chatter, meaning 654 horsepower. With nothing more than some extra boost, it could very well match the 670-horsepower LT6 of the Chevrolet Corvette Z06.