Ferrari will make its grand return to Australian GT racing in 2024 with two brand-new Ferrari 296 GT3 cars to feature in this year’s Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS.
The two prestige vehicles will form part of a new joint-venture between the Lance East group and Arise Racing, which will see the organisations combine for a two-car factory-supported team competing at the Shannons SpeedSeries.
Launched at the Crowdstrike 24 Hours of Spa in 2022, the Ferrari 296 GT3 is the latest-specification GT race car and enjoyed a brilliant maiden season in 2023, achieving wins across Europe and the United States, including the famous Nurburgring 24 Hours.
Being the first GT3 car designed exclusively in-house by Ferrari Attivita Sportive GT and assembled by experienced French constructor Oreca, the car boasts a three-litre, twin-turbocharged 120-degree vee angle engine as the road-going 296 GTB and has improved aerodynamic efficiency compared to its predecessor, the 488.
This year will be the first time in nearly a decade that Ferrari will be seen in Australian GT racing with a proper customer racing program, with the new West Australian-based team to facilitate the sale of Ferrari GT race cars to customers Australia-wide.
Arise Racing GT is not only in the process of finalising an exclusive distribution agreement to supply Ferrari GT parts locally, but it will also be Western Australia’s only team in the GT series.
Already co-managing the national Radical Cup Australia category and the WA Radical state series, Arise Racing GT Team Manager Jordan Oon was looking forward to this next chapter.
“We’re very excited at Arise Racing GT for this year and beyond. There’s a lot of unknowns, but we are in the process of putting the drivers and teams together ahead of what will be a great season,” Oon said.
“With SRO coming back into the category, including new management, we are pumped to be part of seeing the Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS grow in 2024.
“We were invited to see the new Ferrari 296 GT3 being shaken down in Fiorano (Italy), so we got a crash course to see what they are and what the cars are about. They are very impressive, and from what we’ve seen, their design and systems are a match for any GT3 car in the world.
“It’s nice that we have been able to add a new flavour to the category. Ferrari has a huge following globally, and the release of the new car has been huge. They won the Nurburgring 24 Hour, Laurences’ relationship with Ferrari through F1 is very strong, so it was a no brainer to go down this route.
“Obviously we want to be at the pointy end, but until we get through the first round, we aren’t going to know. We are really keen to see the category grow. We want to see more internationals and see the Australian championship be recognised globally. The class has had its ups and downs over the years, but it’s clearly on the way up.
“We are gearing up for the future. We don’t want to be here for one or two years. We see this as a long term program and we want to make it sustainable.”
Lance East Owner, Laurence Escalante echoed Oon’s sentiments.
“Having admired GT racing from afar, it’s a real thrill and unique opportunity to be launching a new team out of my home base of Perth racing Ferraris,” Escalante said.
“Just like in business, motor racing – and all elite sports for that matter – is highly competitive, performance-driven and requires teamwork, which is a super exciting challenge to be a part of with this team. I can’t wait to see what the team and our partners can achieve.”
The Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS 2024 season gets underway at the Bathurst 12 Hour before joining the Shannons SpeedSeries at Race Phillip Island on 12-14 April.
