Getting fed up with trying to work out which GT3 car to use on a particular track? Then the Ferrari GT3 Challenge Series may be the series for you. It solely utilises Ferrari’s popular 296 GT3 racer, meaning no driver has an equipment advantage on a given track, which can happen in series featuring the full range of GT3 machinery iRacing has to offer due to differences in BOP.
Coach Dave Academy presents this guide that will explain everything that you need to know about the Ferrari GT3 car and Challenge series.
The Ferrari 296 GT3 Car
The Ferrari 296 GT3 is the latest top-line GT racing car from one of the world’s most famous performance car manufacturers. It made its debut in the 2023 Daytona 24 Hours as a replacement for the globally used 488 GT3 Evo, and it saw several big changes compared to its forerunner.
The biggest shift regarded the engine. Gone was the turbocharged V8, and in came a turbocharged V6. Unlike the V8, the turbo was shifted inside the V shape of the cylinders, which helps to reduce the vehicle’s centre of gravity. The 296 also featured an all-new aerodynamic package, which was designed to ensure the car was as consistent as possible through fast and medium-speed corners.
To further help make it approachable for less experienced drivers, the car features advanced traction control and anti-lock braking systems. Aside from the Ferrari GT3 Challenge series, the 296 is also eligible for the Fanatec GT3 Challenge, the Simucube GT Sprint Series and the IMSA iRacing Championship.
For those looking to develop their driving in preparation for the Ferrari 296 GT3, the Coach Dave Never Lift guide will give you all the pointers needed to take the next step.
Need Some Setups?
Our iRacing Setup Subscription allows you to focus purely on your on-track performance. And, with access to our free Coach Dave Delta app, installing them couldn’t be any easier.
Get Delta and access all our fixed data pack content that includes reference laps for the entire Ferrari 296 GT3 Challenge Series.
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Race Series Format
The Ferrari GT3 Challenge takes place over a typical iRacing short weekend format. A brief three-minute practice leads to an eight-minute qualifying session, where each driver gets two laps to secure the best possible spot on the grid.
Every race takes place over a 15-minute sprint, so you won’t have long to make the magic happen. The race will end on the lap when the counter ticks to zero. The series runs to a fixed setup format, so each driver has the exact same equipment, with only small setup parameters like the brake bias being available to tweak.
Realistic weather is enabled for this series, meaning rain could affect proceedings. Check the weather forecast on the Go Racing screen before you enter the session to prepare you for what lies ahead.
- Races are run over 15 minutes
- Two qualifying laps allowed to set the best time in qualifying
- No safety car procedure
- Realistic weather is on for all events, rain-enabled
- Fixed setups are mandated
Series Costing
The Ferrari GT3 Challenge runs a predominantly paid-track schedule, so you’ll need to reach into your wallet to compete in every round of the 13-event season. Five of the 13 tracks in the 2024 Season 4 calendar are free with a basic iRacing subscription, so seven will need to be purchased.
This adds up to around $105, a total that is raised to $117 when the cost of the Ferrari 296 GT3 is added to the equation.
What License Is Needed To Race
The Ferrari GT3 Challenge runs in D Class, meaning you’ll need to graduate from the Rookie level before you can compete. Running clean races in fixtures like the Global MX-5 Cup and the Formula 1600 Rookie Series will soon secure you a D Level road license – something you can also get ahead of the competition with thanks to our fixed data packs as part of Coach Dave Delta.
Gain seconds in lap time with our incredible iRacing setups that include professionally developed setups and referance laps for every car available in the official weekly racing series that you can find on iRacing.
What’s So Special?
The Ferrari 296 GT3 is one of the easier of the GT3 crop to extract speed from, as it combines agility and stability arguably better than any of the other mid-engined cars in the class. This makes it ideal for beginners stepping up to D Class, while the short and sweet race format means inexperienced drivers won’t have to concentrate so long.
The Ferrari Challenges approachable setup means pilots can get used to the cut-and-thrust of GT3 racing alongside identical cars that should react similarly. This gets more difficult in higher-ranked GT3 series’, as then you’ll have to deal with cars that excel in different areas.
Piloting the 296 GT3 will also give you a manageable way to understand how a car with downforce works. Driving cleanly by not overdriving corner entries and keeping the car as straight as possible through the bend means you’ll be able to carry more mid-corner pace than you think. Remember, in a downforce car, the faster you go, the more grip you’ll have.
It’s a good idea to practice in a private server before jumping into ranked racing so that you can understand what the car is capable of.
Patience Is A Virtue, And Will Pretty Much Guarantee A Solid Result
The Ferrari GT3 Challenge tends to be one of the first destinations for most rookie drivers to head to once they get their D-Class licenses. This means that driving standards can vary wildly between different racers, making starts a bit of a lottery, especially if you start mid-pack.
Making sure you’re aware of the space around you is key, as you’re pretty much guaranteed to come under attack from some ultra-aggressive drivers who haven’t worked out the limits of the car yet. Play it smart and let some particularly pushy racers go by if you feel in danger, as chances are they’ll cause a crash further up the road that you can benefit from.
In the same vein, inflicting pressure on racers ahead can be effective given they’re likely to be less experienced. They may drive erratically when defending as a result, so waiting for an error can be the safest way sometimes.
- Short race means tyre wear isn’t a concern
- Mounting pressure is effective due to the less experienced nature of drivers you’re up against, can be a significantly safer way of passing erratic drivers
- Do your best to learn the limitations of your car when running in dirty air when compared to driving alone
To Conclude
The Ferrari GT3 Challenge is a good route for budding GT racers looking to reach the highest level of the discipline in iRacing. Purchasing the 296 GT3 means you have a ready-to-go weapon for when you finally achieve higher licenses, and you can get familiar with how a high-downforce race car functions.
The racing should also be more respectful and calmer as you climb the GT3 ladder, so do your time in the Challenge fixture and you’ll be handsomely rewarded later on.
