The wait was finally over on July 18 as the highly-anticipated Ferrari 296 Challenge was introduced to an exclusive band of clients of Ital Auto, the exclusive importer for the Prancing Horse in Singapore.
Brimming with upgrades and leaner with weight savings, the track-focused car will star in next year's Passione Ferrari Club Challenge, the brand's unique racing competition where gentlemen racers compete against their own personal best times.
As a nod to their energy and zest shown on the circuit, two Club Challenge participants were invited to unveil the car at The Gallery, Ital Auto's duty-free storage facility and event space.
Unlike the road-going 296 GTB which it is based on, the 296 Challenge does not have a hybrid power unit, relying solely on a combustion engine. Power from the V6 has been boosted from 663hp to 700hp.
Aerodynamics has also been enhanced through the addition of a S-duct that together with the spoiler can generate 870kg of downforce, an 18% increase over the outgoing 488 Challenge Evo model.
The 296 Challenge is the ninth model to be launched in the history of the Prancing Horse’s single-make series, the first edition of which was organised in 1993.
Now the longest-running single-make championship on the international scene, it has seen the following models being fielded: 348 Challenge (1993-95), F355 Challenge (1995-2001), 360 Challenge (2000-2006), F430 Challenge (2006-2011), 458 Challenge (2011-2013), 458 Challenge Evo (2014-17), 488 Challenge (2017-2019) and the 488 Challenge Evo (2020-).