Ferrari has taken the racing foundations of the 296 GT3 Evo and pushed them beyond the limits normally imposed by competition regulations. The result is the Ferrari 296 GT Modificata, an extreme track only machine created for customers taking part in the Club Competizioni GT programme.
Presented during Ferrari Racing Days in Budapest in September 2026, the 296 GT Modificata combines 730 cv with heavily developed aerodynamics, improved cooling and technology influenced by Ferrari's GT racing and prototype programmes. Ferrari says the complete package has the potential to lap its Fiorano test circuit three seconds faster than the 296 GT3 Evo.
Here are six things that explain why the new Ferrari 296 GT Modificata represents such an extreme interpretation of modern Ferrari GT performance.
1. Unrestricted performance
The biggest difference between the 296 GT Modificata and the 296 GT3 Evo is not immediately visible (unless you see the rear wing). The GT3 Evo has to comply with racing regulations and Balance of Performance requirements, which are used to control areas such as engine output and help different GT3 cars compete at comparable performance levels. The 296 GT Modificata is designed for non competitive track use, so Ferrari does not face those same restrictions.
That freedom allowed Ferrari's engineers to develop the complete package around outright track performance rather than the requirements of a championship. Engine output, aerodynamics, transmission, braking and cooling could all be pushed further, resulting in a car that Ferrari says has the potential to lap Fiorano three seconds faster than the 296 GT3 Evo.
2. Extreme V6
At the centre of the Ferrari 296 GT Modificata is a rear mid mounted 2,992 cc V6 with a 120 degree angle between its cylinder banks. The engine retains the basic architecture and design of the 296 GT3 Evo unit, but Ferrari has modified the cranktrain, camshafts, induction system, intercoolers and turbochargers to extract considerably more performance.
The result is 730 cv at 7,500 rpm, which is 130 cv more than the Balance of Performance restricted 296 GT3 Evo. Ferrari also quotes a specific output of 244 cv per litre, meaning the engine produces 244 cv for every litre of capacity. The six speed sequential gearbox receives new ratios to make better use of the engine's revised operating range, while a carbon clutch forms part of the standard specification.
3. Advanced aerodynamics
Aerodynamics are central to the performance of the 296 GT Modificata, with Ferrari concentrating development on the front of the car and its completely revised rear wing. At the front is a new component Ferrari calls the Slotted Splitter, which improves airflow management underneath the car and increases its ability to generate downforce. This aerodynamic pressure pushes the car towards the track as speed rises, helping the tyres maintain grip through fast corners.
The rear wing has been comprehensively redesigned to increase aerodynamic performance while maintaining the correct balance between the front and rear of the car. It features a new centre pylon, a 5 mm Gurney Flap and endplates inspired by the Ferrari 499P. The endplates help control the rotating air, known as vortices, created around the wing, showing how Ferrari has focused on managing airflow rather than simply fitting larger aerodynamic surfaces.
4. Smarter cooling
The additional engine performance also creates considerably more heat, making cooling an important part of the aerodynamic development. Ferrari has redesigned the front bonnet with a larger main opening and a specific vane that directs hot air leaving the central radiator away from the lateral intercoolers. The vent close to the base of the windscreen has also been redesigned to improve thermal management underneath the bonnet.
Cooling is equally important for the braking system, particularly during long and demanding track sessions. The 296 GT Modificata uses new ventilated steel front brake discs, an additional air intake in the lower front bumper and optimised brake cooling ducts. Together, these changes improve heat dissipation and help the braking system deliver more consistent performance as temperatures increase over repeated laps.
5. Racing Technology
The 296 GT Modificata is closely related to the 296 GT3 Evo, but its technology also reflects lessons learned elsewhere in Ferrari's racing programmes. The internal components of its turbochargers were developed specifically for the car while also drawing on experience gained with the 499P Modificata, while the design of the new rear wing endplates takes inspiration from the 499P race car.
Ferrari has also equipped the car with technology designed to help owners understand and improve their driving. The standard data acquisition system uses additional sensors to measure factors including air speed, damper movement and brake temperatures, while video records track sessions for later analysis with a coach. Tyre pressure and temperature monitoring is also included and the two seat cabin allows an instructor to sit alongside the driver and provide guidance through the integrated intercom.
6. Modificata history
The Modificata moniker in Ferrari model names has a history stretching back more than half a century. The first Ferrari to carry the designation was the 512 M of 1970, an evolution of the 512 S with a lighter and more powerful V12 engine, new four valve cylinder heads and more aerodynamic bodywork. The idea was clear from the beginning: take an existing Ferrari and develop it further through significant technical changes.
Photo: Tom Hartley Jnr
Ferrari later applied the M designation to road cars including the F512 M in 1994, the 456M GT in 1998, the 575M Maranello in 2002 and the Portofino M in 2020. Although these cars could be driven on public roads, the name communicated the same basic idea of meaningful development over the model that came before.
For track only cars, however, the Modificata concept has become considerably more extreme. The 488 GT Modificata arrived in 2020 using knowledge from the 488 GT3 and 488 GTE, while the 499P Modificata followed in 2023 as a customer focused development of Ferrari's Le Mans winning 499P. The new 296 GT Modificata continues that tradition by taking the 296 GT3 Evo as its starting point and exploiting the freedom available when racing regulations no longer define the limits.
What’s your favourite detail of the Ferrari 296 GT Modificata?
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