Ferrari 296 GT3
The Ferrari 296 GT3 represents the way forward for the Prancing Horse in GT racing, a sector that has at all times seen the closest relationship with clients and the best switch of expertise and revolutionary options to manufacturing automobiles. The 296 GT3 grew out of the 296 GTB, the newest evolution of the Maranello firm’s two-seater mid-rear-engined sports activities berlinetta idea.
The Ferrari 296 GT3 is an revolutionary venture, on and off the observe, that the Prancing Horse producer determined to develop to proceed a profitable custom courting again to 1949 when the 166 MM triumphed within the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This can be a new strategy by way of design, automobile administration in any respect phases of a race weekend, electronics, and even the engine structure, a 120° turbocharged 6-cylinder. A brand new idea constructed to satisfy the wants of groups, skilled drivers and gents drivers, on whom Ferrari has at all times centered. This automobile has been meticulously designed in each element and from each angle, in compliance with the brand new GT3 rules.
Engine and gearbox
The Ferrari 296 GT3 marks the return to the observe of a six-cylinder-engined Ferrari despite the fact that, in compliance with technical rules, it would not have the electrical unit featured within the 296 GTB. A 120° vee configuration with equally-spaced firings was launched for the 296 GT3’s V6 combustion engine. That is based mostly on its road-going twin, as is the positioning of the turbos contained in the vee. All this brings important advantages by way of compactness, decrease centre of gravity and decreased mass, and in addition helps to attain very excessive energy ranges. The engine, which has at all times been on the coronary heart of Ferrari’s designs, is farther ahead and decrease down than within the highway model, to the good thing about a decrease centre of gravity and torsional rigidity, which is round 10% greater than within the 488 GT3.
2023 Ferrari 296 GT3
The structure is a winner by way of firing order, integration of the consumption manifolds and engine mounts on the consumption sides of the cylinder heads: the engine is lighter and extra compact having eradicated the exterior plenums and helps. Its inside fluid dynamics profit from the discount in quantity, boosting consumption effectivity.
Ferrari’s engineers labored with these of its companions to design and fine-tune all of the engine’s inside fluid dynamics and the precise elements adopted for the observe model of the ability unit. They aimed to offer uncompromising efficiency, reliability and driveability for each ‘Dash’ and ‘Endurance’ races. For any such competitors, they did every thing to restrict consumption considerably with out sacrificing efficiency, aiming for extra versatile race methods and decreased intervention occasions. For instance, the alternator is hooked up to the gearbox to enhance the unit’s compactness and rigidity and make it simpler for technicians to entry.
The gearbox of the Ferrari 296 GT3 is new and specifically developed for this automobile. The designers opted for a single-disc clutch unit with six gears, organized transversely for higher aerodynamics and weight distribution. Clutch actuation is now digital and will be managed from the steering wheel, quite than mechanical by way of the foot pedal, whereas the gear change is electrically actuated. The miniaturisation of the elements and the usage of premium supplies made it attainable to maintain the burden of the Xtrac gearbox down, benefiting efficiency.
Exterior and aerodynamics
Ferrari’s future in GT racing is sinuous in kind, enfolding the volumes of the 296 GTB, redefining them to satisfy the necessities of the observe and efficiency due to the teamwork between Centro Stile, aerodynamicists and designers. Because of this the automobile’s design, minus the aerodynamic units or options particular to the racing model, has retained its connection to the manufacturing mannequin. The design of the latter already refers again to autos such because the 250 LM of 1963, an ideal mixture of simplicity and performance.
The Ferrari engineers have been in a position to outline an aerodynamic configuration throughout the homologation efficiency window by lowering experience peak sensitivities with the intention of enhancing dealing with and driveability. This exact and detailed work on the shapes yielded a achieve of 20% in downforce on the automobile over the earlier era. From this attitude, the 296 GT3 lives in symbiosis with the air round it, exploiting it to maximise grip and dealing with, benefiting gents drivers and professionals alike. The problem met by the designers was to restrict the automobile’s sensitivity to the forces generated by aerodynamics, to offer a unprecedented stability for the good thing about driveability and driver confidence. The geometry of all of the elements, from the physique to the wing appendages, was designed intimately below various working circumstances and in mutual aerodynamic interplay to optimise efficiency and make it strong in several racing contexts, additionally when within the slipstream of different automobiles. From the entrance splitter to the rear extractor, which has a diffusor with a classy three-dimensional design, the 296 GT3 stands out via a refined design that goals to attain the bottom attainable drag.
Cockpit
Intuitiveness, visibility and accessibility are crucial to the event of the cabin design with out neglecting important points similar to security and luxury. In endurance racing, efficiency relies on these options, significantly for gents drivers. The cabin was utterly redesigned over the 488 GT3, in response to enter from manufacturing facility drivers and clients. The result’s a cockpit that permits its occupant to rapidly and successfully discover the very best driving place, with the primary capabilities at all times inside simple attain. Many controls and capabilities have moved to the brand new Formulation 1 single seater-inspired steering wheel, whereas the place of the Sabelt seat gives optimum visibility, each day and night time. It additionally provides a brand new stage of consolation for drivers of various sizes and statures who can use the adjustable pedals and steering to search out their finest place within the automobile. The air-con system and airflow contained in the cabin have been designed to offer ample air flow in all circumstances, serving to the driving force to pay attention throughout each stage of a race.
Chassis and automobile dynamics
Whereas the 296 GT3 chassis attracts on the expertise of the 488 GT3, it’s totally new and is manufactured from aluminium. Apart from being extraordinarily simple and enjoyable to drive, the 296 GT3 can exploit the grip potential provided by the tyres with out compromising their integrity in only a few laps, benefiting efficiency and repeatability. The chassis’ excessive lightness, which within the 296 GT3 additionally permits higher and extra environment friendly ballast administration, contributes to this. The security construction has been rigorously designed utilizing probably the most refined simulations and revolutionary applied sciences and analysis, particularly in alloys and supplies.
The Ferrari 296 GT3 has an extended wheelbase than its road-going counterpart, throughout the regulatory limits, and a special suspension design to the 488 GT3, with devoted kinematics and constructions. The double wishbone arms within the entrance and rear suspensions are designed to supply most grip even at excessive speeds, limiting stress on the tyres so far as attainable, to the good thing about tyre life, efficiency and reliability. The suspension, just like the anti-roll bars, options the widest attainable vary of settings offering drivers with the very best setup. The braking system was additionally revised and upgraded, with newly designed callipers and discs (now 400 mm on the entrance). Rotiform has developed an all- new, solid wheel homologated particularly for the 296 GT3. Encompassed within the partnership, the brand new Rotiform design would be the unique wheel provided for all manufacturing facility Ferrari 296 GT3 skilled stage racecars.
In designing the 296 GT3, Ferrari’s engineers centered on rushing up observe operations on the automobile through the race and pre-race. From this perspective, it’s simpler to switch the 296 GT3’s setup than the earlier mannequin attributable to extra accessible mechanical and elastic elements. Operations associated to checks on the engine or main accent methods have been additionally considerably improved to chop intervention time on the automobile. Nevertheless, the brand new Ferrari additionally differs considerably from its rivals by way of changing important elements of the automobile. The entrance and rear parts will be switched in seconds attributable to a sequence of units and options that guarantee a fast return to the observe after any harm affecting aerodynamics or efficiency.
Improvement
The Ferrari 296 GT3 was developed with excessive use in thoughts, typical of the “Professional” lessons the place victory is the final word aim, and for gents drivers, for whom racing is firstly about having enjoyable. Your complete venture idea emerged in 2020 and went reside with with the primary CFD simulations and simulator fashions. Then got here the indoor testing, which outlined the automobile’s aerodynamic form within the wind tunnel, the bench-tuning of the engine and rigidity testing the automobile chassis. The automobile lastly accomplished the endurance checks in Maranello’s 4WD Dyno. For the reason that first shakedown on the Fiorano observe on 12 April 2022, the brand new Ferrari has accomplished tens of hundreds of kilometres making ready it for racing, the hardest problem of all.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
- ENGINE
- Sort F163CE, 6 cil. V 120°, 4 valves per cylinder, 2992 cm3, GDI Turbo
- Bore/Stroke: 88 x 82 mm
- Max Energy: ca. 600 Hp @ 7250 rpm
- Max Torque: ca. 710 Nm @ 5500 rpm
- GEARBOX
- Transversal sequential gearbox, 6 pace
- Rotary e-shift actuator gearshift with paddles on the steering wheel
- E-clutch actuator with paddle on the steering wheel
- Magnesium gearbox case with built-in oil catch tank
- Pneumatic pre-load adjustable differential
- CHASSIS
- Tracks: 1726 mm entrance / 1710 mm rear
- Width: 2050 mm max (with out mirrors)
- Wheelbase: 2660 mm
- Weight (no gas, no driver): 1250 kg
- Entrance and rear suspension: double wishbone, tubular metal suspension arms, aluminum uprights. 5 methods adjustable dampers
- Rims: Entrance 12,5″ x 18″, Rear 13″ x 18″
- Tyres: Entrance 30/68/18, Rear 31/71/18
- Brake discs: Entrance Ø 400×36, Rear 332×32
- Brake calipers: Entrance 6 pistons, Rear 4 pistons
- Brake pads: Entrance 30 mm, Rear 26.5 mm