Ferrari’s GT3 racer is in demand like never before, the perfect time to get that order in. Many countries are facing economic woes, with consumer markets slumping down in some industries worldwide but on the racing side, things are high up and running with customer racing at an all-time high.
The demand is high enough for Ferrari that it has started making it easier for its very rich clients to start buying or upgrading their racing machinery with the new 296 GT3 car. The new model is being treated as a regular with its configurator and other pecks despite the economic crisis.
Yes, you heard right, the 296 GT3 has become the first Prancing Horse racing model to be allocated configurator treatment so all clientele looking for an upgrade with a code for their perfect GT3 spec can wander around showrooms and come out satisfied. And the options are endless for a car that doesn’t need leather, wireless charging, and satellite navigation.
To begin, the new GT3 comes with the standard options for color mixture including the bare carbon fiber and new 2022 Rosso Imola, besides the decal set matching the official launch car. These designs are for anyone looking into buying the GT3 to win track day games or for customers that simply want to own a fancy car. For those looking at the GT3 as a racing car and intended to do, the exterior can be plastered with an individual selection of color patterns and sponsors.
Next on the list for customization is the configuration of the car. You can go all big with the lights if you are aiming of making it into the Nurburgring 24 Hour or to find a place in the 24 Hours of Le Mans grid for GT3 cars in 2024.
The best pack for 24-hour drives and race tracks is the 24H Lights Pack which can be added to your model. The extra set of LEDs will be added to either side of your Ferrari badge front bumper. Another option on the table is yellow tints for headlights. These are mandatory for those planning on taking part in endurance events and are a great plus look for the GT3.
Wheel options are not available sadly but if little details are what you are into don’t worry because you can still choose whether you want to have black or gold anodizing on the tips of the center lock wheels.
Interestingly though is how many customization options are available for the interior considering there is so little of what can be called that. For starters, you can pick the color option for the fabric of the racing seat between red or blue, you may be disappointed along with us for the lack of crema suede F-1 style from the early 90s as an extra option though the Sabelt six-point harnesses come in a range of color options.
Now if you want to go top speed with your mates you can get a second seat installed in the car, cool right? You won’t need any infotainment of course when driving the GT3 but you can pick a marshaling display that will show you flag waving in real time and spec up a handy rear-view camera so you can cut down the number of trips taken to see the stewards.
Built for GT3 regs means that you don’t get performance packs with your car or the added driving modes that can mean the extra edge over your rivals. So expect to only get the road car’s 3.0-liter turbocharged V6, with no hybrid system so you will be driving rear wheels the restricted 600hp.
The wheelbase has been boosted by 60mm compared to the road car, and the track has been improved greatly at both the front and rear. The 60mm mark will make the user experience better, especially for inexperienced drivers and it also follows 2022 GT2 rules. Compared to the old 488 GT3, the new GT3 has a 20 percent improved peak downforce as a result of a collection of fins and a big rear wing. Rear-wing delete option of the configurator is not an option at all, which is a good thing.
Ferrari is aiming to streamline the racing experience for customers by introducing the configurator, and the company is handling showroom sales of all its GT3 cars. This new move has hyped the demand for Ferrari’s GT3 racer to a high never seen before. How much the car will cost has not been confirmed yet but it’s expected that deliveries will start as early as next year before the debut of the 296 GT3 at the Le Mans besides Ferrari’s latest hypercar prototype the 499P in 2024. Why not join us next year for the centenary event?
Ferrari is planning to debut its V6-powered hypercar at the 2024 World Endurance Championship with an eye for the prize which the car maker has not seen for this competition since 1965. The race begins on March 17.
The 449P is powered V6 twin-turbo and produces 680hp more than the GT3 and is currently not available as a customer car though the company has neither confirmed nor denied whether the car will be privately owned shortly.
The GT3 though is an exciting option for customers looking into individual touches in their car and has broken the trend of having configurators available for street cars only. The GT3’s inside is different from the standard 296 Ferrari but that should be expected because the GT3 purpose is to stand out as a race car.
The GT3 car offers easy maintenance options with the bodywork easy to remove as one piece, offering simplified assembly with fewer cables. The 296 GT3 was unveiled in July 2022 and has seen an increase in demand since then prompting the car manufacturer to launch a configurator for customers to customize it to their personal preference if they can afford it.