The Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo Is Maranello's Latest GT Racer

The 488 road car may have usurped by the F8 Tributo, but in the motorsport world, it’s a different story. The 488 GT3 has plenty of competition life left in it, so Ferrari has seen fit to create a new Evo package for the racer.

Making its debut for the 2020 season, the 488 GT3 Evo has an extensively altered aerodynamic profile. For instance, the new front bumper alone took 18,000 hours of “calculations and CFD simulations” to develop before it even hit the wind tunnel.

The frontal section under the headlights is smaller, making it possible to fit new gurney flaps either side. While we’re taking a look at the front, it’s also worth pointing out the redesigned wings and their angry-looking vents, and the doors, which are now more tapered at the front for better airflow. The rear wing has been given some new vents too.

The wheelbase is longer, matching that of the related GTE car. This makes it easier to convert the GT3 to GTE regulations, should you want. The Evo is also slightly lighter than before, meaning it’ll take more ballast on board. This is a good thing, as it allows race engineers to mount the extra weight as low as possible for a better centre of gravity.

Although Ferrari hasn’t supplied an image of it, the GT3 Evo has a fancy new seat development with Sabelt. Used in both the GT3 and the GTE, it’s stiffer, stronger and 2.4kg lighter. Win-win-win.

GT3 racing a little serious for you? Perhaps you’d prefer the other racing car Ferrari has just revealed: the 488 Challenge Evo. Built for Ferrari’s one-make series, it features its own set of aero tweaks, increasing downforce by 50 per cent compared to the regular 488 Challenge.

The front brake disc design has been changed meanwhile, and the rear rotors are now larger. The reworked stoppers are intended to wear less aggressively than the parts they replace.

The Pirelli slick tyres are new too, and took seven months to develop. The finishing touch is a new steering wheel designed using lessons learned from the FXX-K Evo and 488 GTE.

Pleasingly, if you have either a standard 488 GTE or 488 Challenge, you won’t need to shell out for a whole new car - both sets of changes are available as upgrade kits for existing vehicles.