In case you thought Ferrari was getting soft, here's something rather more serious: the Piloti Ferrari 296 Speciale. This one's strictly for the Scuderia's customer racing drivers, and no, your Instagram karting career won't count.
Launched just ahead of this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans, the timing isn't coincidental. The AF Corse team—made up of Robert Kubica, Phil Hanson, and Yifei Ye—claimed victory in their number 83 Ferrari 499P Hypercar. Naturally, Ferrari decided this would be an excellent opportunity to honour their customers who do the actual racing. The result is the 296 Speciale, but Piloti-spec.
Livery of Legends
This isn't just any 296. The Piloti version gets its wardrobe from the Le Mans-winning 499P. Available in Rosso Scuderia, Blu Tour De France, Nero Daytona, and Argento Nürburgring, each car comes with Giallo Modena striping, racing number 51 on the hood and doors, and hand-painted WEC logos. That 51 belongs to Ferrari's works drivers who won in 2023, though one assumes there may soon be a number 83 version.
More Than Just Paint
Inside, the car features race-style, thermoformed seats finished in black Alcantara, with exposed carbon and bare metal touches to remind you that no, this is not for your Sunday mall run.
It shares the same monstrous hybrid setup as the 296 GTB Speciale: a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 paired with an electric motor. Together, they produce 880 bhp and send it to all four wheels. The electric motor lives on the front axle, providing grip and go, while the petrol engine shoves the rear.
Faster, Stickier, Louder
Aerodynamically, it's been tweaked for track performance. There's 20 per cent more downforce than a standard 296 GTB thanks to clever bits like suspended splitters, a reworked diffuser, and something called a rear gamma wing. Also onboard: a software boost function that delivers full power on demand, ideal for shaving milliseconds at Fiorano or bragging rights at the next privateer meet.
No price yet, but expect it to be somewhere well north of ₹ five crore. Then again, if you have to ask, you probably don't have a racing licence. Or a WEC podium.
With another Le Mans win in the bag, maybe it's time Ferrari painted one in number 83, just for the new champs. That would be fair, wouldn't it?
