Ferrari will go GT racing with a new model next year. The Italians unveiled the new 488 GT3 in Mugello at the weekend during the Ferrari Finali Mondiali Motorsport World Finals. Ex Formula 1 drivers Giancarlo Fisichella & Olivier Beretta, and Formula 1 test driver Andrea Bertolini, who were instrumental in developing the new Ferrari, officially presented the 488 GT3. Bertolini also posted demo laps in the new GT3 at the Ferrari Festival in Tuscany at the weekend.

The super sports car is based on the new Ferrari, the 488 GTB which was introduced this year and is eligible to be entered by customer teams in 2016 to contest series which are run according to GT3 regulations, such as the ADAC GT Masters. Unlike its predecessor, the 458 Italia GT3 with its naturally aspirated V8 engine, the new model Ferrari has a V8-turbo engine with a capacity of 3.9 litres.

So, Ferrari will also utilise turbo technology next year in the GT3 class, just like Nissan, Bentley. McLaren and BMW. The 488 replaces the 458 which has already enjoyed success in the ADAC GT Masters, having secured one pole position and a race win in the past. Apart from the production-based engine unit, the 488 GT3 is technically closely related to the 488 GTE which was also rolled out at the weekend and will compete in the GTE sports car class of the FIA WEC World Championship, starting next year. Ferrari has not yet released any technical details for the 488 GT3.