A heavily camouflaged Ferrari test mule has been spotted on public roads. And it does not look subtle. Massive rear wing. Extreme aero. Track-focused stance. This is not your regular supercar refresh. All signs point towards a road-legal version of the Ferrari 296 Challenge track car. In other words, the Ferrari 296 Challenge Stradale!
New Ferrari Spied With Camo!
The Ferrari 296 Challenge debuted in 2023 as a dedicated race car based on the 296 GTB. Unlike the GTB, it dropped the hybrid system and focused purely on the 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6. It was lighter, louder and built purely for competition.
Now, Ferrari appears to be working on its road-going derivative, likely to be called the 296 Challenge Stradale when launched.
This would not be the first time Ferrari has converted a race-focused machine into a barely-tamed road car. The formula is simple. Take something extreme. Make it just legal enough. Keep the madness intact.
Aggressive Aero Confirmed
The test mule retains the towering rear wing from the Challenge race car. That alone tells you Ferrari is not dialing things down too much.
However, there are subtle differences. The front bumper is new and not seen on other 296 variants. The presence of front parking sensors hints at road usability. The slick racing tyres have been replaced with road-biased performance rubber.
ALSO READ: Boopesh Reddy (Bren Garage) Buys India’s First Ferrari Purosangue SUV
At the rear, dual exhaust tips sit beneath a mesh grille that exposes parts of the twin-turbo V6. It looks raw, mechanical and unapologetic.
Interior Will Be Civilised, Relatively
The race-spec 296 Challenge had a stripped-out interior with a roll cage and bare essentials. The test prototype, however, shows a regular cabin layout.
Expect proper seats, leather trim and the usual Ferrari craftsmanship. It will not be luxurious in the traditional sense, but it will be livable. Because let’s be honest, a pure race car on the road sounds romantic until you try driving it over speed breakers. Ferrari knows its buyers want drama without daily suffering.
Engine: Staying True To The V6?
The 296 Challenge race car used a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 producing 690 bhp and 740 Nm, without any hybrid assistance. In contrast, the road-going 296 GTB produces 663 bhp from the engine alone, but the total output rises to 830 bhp- thanks to its hybrid system.
ALSO READ: Ferrari Could Bring Back Manual Transmission! [Details]
The big question is what Ferrari does with the Stradale. If it sticks to the non-hybrid race-spec setup, output could remain close to 690 bhp, possibly slightly detuned to meet emissions regulations. That would make it lighter and more focused than the GTB hybrid.
If Ferrari keeps it hybrid, performance could go even further. But the visual clues suggest this is more about purity than electrification.
If this is indeed the 296 Challenge Stradale, expect it to be brutally fast, limited production and very expensive.
