The Ferrari 296 Challenge is already racing uphill and winning! "An extraordinary car

Hillclimbs are an opportunity to see old glories long since retired from official championships, such as Lancia Delta HF, Alfa Romeo 155/156 and Fiat X1/9. But for others, it's all about the latest machines: why wait to launch a GT3-type racer on the "cronoscalate"? The models FerrariLamborghini and Porsche GT3 or Challenge / Trofeo / Cup models are more suited to the racetrack than to the winding roads of Italy, but the excellence of their chassis and engines can be major assets!

King of Italy

Lucio Peruggini is an Italian driver from Foggia, specializing in mountain racing. Peruggini had already won the title in 2016, 2017 and 2018 in a Ferrari 458 GT3. In 2019, he swapped his "out of breath" 458 for a Huracan GT3, which enabled him to retain his title in 2019 and 2020. In 2022, he returned to the Ferrari fold and won the 2022 and 2023 Italian hillclimb championship, GT category, in a Ferrari 488 Challenge Evo. He also occasionally took part in historic rallies in the years 2000-2010, driving a Lancia Delta S4.

AF Corsica in support

In 2025, Peruggini has commissioned his new weapon, an all-black Ferrari 296 Challenge. A formidable car, all the more so as Peruggini has almost official driver status: the car is prepared purely and simply by AF Corse, the entity that oversees Ferrari's involvement in GT and WEC. 

In Peruggini's own words, the switch to the 296 Challenge represents "a clear leap forward" compared with the 488 he had been using previously. The first tests in Cremona had highlighted his driver's enthusiasm: "It's a far superior car to the 488 I usually drive. More power, better braking, a more precise gearbox and remarkable agility in corners. An extraordinary car. On the circuit, it's a clear improvement; uphill, it'll be a real challenge".

An optimal Ferrari Challenge

The 296 Challenge appeared in 2024after the launch of the GT3 (since replaced by the the 296 GT3 Evo). This ninth model in the history of the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli features a twin-turbocharged 2,992 cm3 engine, already tried and tested in the 296 GT3. As with the GT3, the Challenge does not feature hybridization, unlike the "civilian" version. The architecture unleashes 700 hp and 740 Nm of torque, i.e. more than 240 hp per liter! The elimination of the hybrid alone represents a saving of 130 kilos on the scales.

Aero-wise, the 296 Challenge offers a downforce unprecedented in the history of the series, at over 870 kg of downforce at 250 km/h with the spoiler at its maximum angle of attack. Other highlights include Evo Track ABS, an adaptation of the innovative system introduced on the 296 GTB, a "brake-by-wire" braking system, new CCM-R Plus brake discs and custom-developed Pirelli 19″ tires.

A title that calls for more!

The results lived up to the hype. The Ferrari 296 Challenge made its debut at the 74ᵃ edition of the Trento-Bondone race (June 6-8, 2025). In this opening round, it edged out some notable competitors (GT3s, other supercars) and won the GT group. Success followed success, and Peruggini took another title in 2025, the 8th of his career, the 1st in the 296 "Hillclimb".