Ferrari 296 GT3 Evos on grid for 2026 24 Hours at Daytona
Following an intense week of collective testing and free practice sessions during the traditional ROAR Before the Rolex 24, Ferrari is set to begin the 2026 IMSA SportsCar Championship season in emphatic fashion. Six Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo cars will line up for the 64th running of the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona, marking the competitive debut of the Maranello manufacturer’s latest GT3 evolution on one of endurance racing’s most iconic stages.
The legendary Daytona International Speedway, with its 3.56-mile (5.7-kilometre) tri-oval layout combining high-speed banking and a demanding infield, once again hosts America’s premier 24-hour endurance race. Scheduled to start on Saturday, 24 January at 1:40 p.m. local time, the race represents not only the opening round of the IMSA season but also a major milestone for Ferrari’s GT racing programme as the 296 GT3 Evo enters top-level competition.
Ferrari arrives in Florida with formidable strength, fielding a total of ten official drivers across the two GT categories open to production-derived cars: GTD Pro and GTD. Among them are multiple Le Mans winners, world champions, and Daytona race victors, underlining the brand’s ambition to fight for class honours from the very first lap.
Strong Ferrari presence in GTD Pro
Two Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo entries will contest the fiercely competitive GTD Pro category, which is reserved exclusively for professional drivers.
Risi Competizione, one of Ferrari’s most successful long-time partners in North American endurance racing, fields the number 62 Ferrari. The car will be driven by a trio of Prancing Horse factory stars: Daniel Serra, Davide Rigon, and Alessandro Pier Guidi. All three drivers bring extensive experience at Daytona, including multiple class wins, making the entry a clear contender for victory.
Alongside Risi, Triarsi Competizione enters the number 033 Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo. The crew features official Ferrari drivers James Calado, Miguel Molina, and Alessio Rovera, joined by Riccardo Agostini. This line-up blends endurance racing pedigree with sprint-race sharpness, positioning the car as another major threat in GTD Pro as Ferrari looks to defend its recent successes at the circuit.
Four Ferraris in GTD competition
Ferrari’s presence extends even further in the GTD class, which allows a mix of professional and gentleman drivers. Four Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo cars will take on the demanding 24-hour challenge in this category.
AF Corse USA enters the number 21 Ferrari, crewed by official Ferrari drivers Antonio Fuoco, Lilou Wadoux Ducellier, and Tommaso Mosca, alongside Simon Mann. The line-up combines youth, speed, and endurance experience, with Wadoux continuing her rise as one of GT racing’s standout talents.
Triarsi Competizione’s second entry, the number 023 Ferrari, will see official driver Yifei Ye sharing driving duties with Onofrio Triarsi, Kenton Koch, and Robert Megennis. The car showed strong pace during ROAR testing, suggesting it could be a serious podium contender in the GTD field.
Completing Ferrari’s Daytona contingent are two additional customer teams. Conquest Racing fields the number 34 Ferrari with Manny Franco, Albert Costa, Lorenzo Patrese, and Thierry Vermeulen, while Inception Racing brings the number 70 entry, driven by Brendan Iribe, Ollie Millroy, Frederik Schandorff, and David Fumanelli. Both teams demonstrated consistent pace during practice, reinforcing the depth of Ferrari’s GT3 programme.
ROAR testing highlights competitive pace
The week-long ROAR test provided teams with seven free practice sessions run across varying track conditions, from cool mornings to warmer afternoon temperatures. These sessions allowed engineers and drivers to refine setups and gain valuable data ahead of race week.
Among the Ferrari runners, Inception Racing posted the fastest lap for the marque with a time of 1:47.906. Close behind were Triarsi Competizione’s number 023 Ferrari at 1:47.933 and the Risi Competizione entry at 1:47.954. The remaining Ferraris also recorded competitive times, highlighting strong overall performance across teams and classes.
Ferrari and Daytona: a historic connection
The 2026 edition marks the 64th running of the Daytona endurance classic, which has almost always been contested over a full 24-hour distance. Ferrari’s history at the event is rich and storied, with 17 class victories and five overall wins to its name.
The most recent success came in 2024, when the Risi Competizione Ferrari 296 GT3 claimed victory in the GTD Pro class with Davide Rigon, Daniel Serra, Alessandro Pier Guidi, and James Calado. Among Ferrari’s legendary overall triumphs, the unforgettable one-two-three finish in 1967 remains a defining moment, when the 330 P3/P4 and 330 P4 models dominated the race in front of an enthralled crowd.
Race week schedule and broadcast
Track activity resumes on Thursday, 22 January, with two free practice sessions followed by GTD qualifying from 2:10 to 2:25 p.m. and GTD Pro qualifying from 2:30 to 2:45 p.m. local time. A final free practice session is scheduled for Friday, 23 January, setting the stage for the race start on Saturday afternoon.
International fans can follow every moment of the action live via the IMSA YouTube channel, while viewers in the United States can watch the full race on Peacock TV.
As the Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo prepares to tackle its first major endurance test, expectations are high. With a strong driver roster, competitive pace, and a legacy deeply woven into Daytona’s history, Ferrari enters the 2026 Rolex 24 determined to add another memorable chapter to its endurance racing story.
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