Ferrari introduced the 296 GT3 in 2022, developed in collaboration with French motorsport engineering firm Oreca. The car is based on the 296 GTB road car, which uses a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged 120-degree V6 engine combined with hybrid electric drive. The 296 GT3 succeeded the Ferrari 488 GT3, which had been one of the most successful GT3 cars of its generation since its introduction.
The car made its racing debut at the 2023 24 Hours of Daytona, opening the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season.
The 296 GT3's competition career opened with a major result in its debut year. On May 21, 2023, the Ferrari 296 GT3 entered by Frikadelli Racing won the 2023 24 Hours of Nürburgring, completing a total of 162 laps and setting a new distance record for the race.
In IMSA competition, Risi Competizione's 296 GT3 achieved the GTD Pro class victory at the 2024 24 Hours of Daytona on January 28, 2024.
The car made an immediate impact in the newly launched LMGT3 category of the FIA World Endurance Championship, which replaced the former GTE-Am class for 2024. On September 15, 2024, the No. 54 Vista AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3 won the LMGT3 class at the 2024 6 Hours of Fuji. On November 2, 2024, the No. 55 Vista AF Corse 296 GT3 added a second LMGT3 class victory at the 2024 8 Hours of Bahrain.
In the GT World Challenge Europe, the 296 GT3 secured multiple championships in 2024. Alessandro Pier Guidi and Alessio Rovera won the drivers' championship in the Endurance Cup on November 30, 2024, driving the No. 51 car for AF Corse, which also took the teams' championship. In the Bronze class of the same series, the No. 93 Sky–Tempesta Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 won both the drivers' and teams' championships.
In Australia, Liam Talbot and Chaz Mostert won the 2024 GT World Challenge Australia in their Arise Racing 296 GT3, marking only the second Ferrari victory in the Australian GT Championship since Allan Simonsen's win in 2007.
The 296 GT3's sprint campaign in 2025 continued the car's success. At the 2025 GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup round at Brands Hatch on May 4, the No. 51 AF Corse car driven by Vincent Abril and Alessio Rovera took the overall victory. At the 2025 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps on May 10, Ferrari took the LMGT3 class win with the No. 21 entry. On November 16, 2025, the No. 50 Ferrari 296 GT3 driven by Antonio Fuoco won the 2025 FIA GT World Cup at Macau, giving Ferrari its first victory at the Macau street circuit.
On June 27, 2025, at the 24 Hours of Spa, Ferrari announced the Evo version of the 296 GT3, targeting a 2026 debut. The Evo package includes a new gear ratio cascade to improve torque delivery across the rev range, enhanced cooling with two additional air intakes on the hood, and a redesigned rear wing with revised support structure and side panels. The Evo package made its first race appearance at the 2026 24 Hours of Daytona.
The Ferrari 296 GT3 arrived as GT3 racing's customer field was intensely competitive, with multiple manufacturers offering well-developed machinery. Its debut season win at the Nürburgring 24 Hours established it immediately as a serious contender, and its subsequent success in the WEC's LMGT3 category across 2024 and 2025 confirmed the car's performance in international endurance competition. The partnership with Oreca for development reflects the approach Ferrari has taken on previous successful GT racing programs, and the Evo version signals a continued commitment to the car's competitive development through the late 2020s.