Splash and Dash

How do you improve on the already mighty 296 GTB? That is the challenge facing the 296 Speciale, the successor to 488 Pista—that and some atrocious weather

- Story: Adam Towler Photography: Lee Brimble

EVEN A WOUND-UP 296 SPECIALE cannot outrun a rain cloud as purple and pregnant as the one spanning the Emilia-Romagna skyline.

Part of me would love to try, because we were due back at Fiorano, Ferrari's test-track, about an hour ago. Nevertheless, if I have learnt one thing above all others this morning, it is that 880 hp on these narrow, twisting roads up in the hills, polished by a summer of baking Italian sunshine and now streaming with rainwater, is not to be treated casually. Better to be late than in the hedge.

The hybrid 296 Speciale is the latest car in one of Maranello's most revered bloodlines. First there was the raw, brilliant 360 Challenge Stradale, complete with the clatter of flying pebbles on bare metal floors and the kidney thump of the infernal single-clutch semi-auto transmission. Then came the razor-sharp 430 Scuderia, currently the most overlooked member of this family; an all-new naturally aspirated V8 (F136 replacing “Dino”) and a big step forward in chassis electronics.

Then “the one”, the mesmerising 458 Speciale, a car still regarded as possibly the greatest driver's car ever built, a spine-tingling, life-affirming ball of balletic fury on four wheels. Finally, the turbocharged 488 Pista of 2018, ultimately more capable and faster, but not quite such a captivating personality.

On paper, the increase in power for the 296's 3.0-litre 120° V6 does not sound particularly impressive: just 37 hp. Yet with the little V6 already churning out 663 hp, there simply was not much scope for more, especially as Ferrari did not want to increase the size of the turbochargers and harm throttle response.