Early in 2022, the news that RaceRoom had agreed on a partnership with Ferrari made waves, with the Ferrari 488 GT3 being introduced as part of the DTM 2021 pack.. Now, another version of the vehicle is available: The Ferrari 488 GT3 2020 is here as part of the GTR 3 class, as GT3 is called in the sim.
While the existing car is technically also a GT3 vehicle, it is only available as part of the DTM 2021 class. This can be explained by the different BoP requirements the series has implemented compared to “regular” GT3 series – the new 488 joins the GTR 3 class, which is not based on a particular series.
This expands the GT3 roster to 22 cars, with vehicles like the Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo, the Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo or the Porsche 991 II GT3 R already present. With the latest update, the evo versions of the Mercedes-AMG and the Bentley Continental GT3 have been added as well. The 488 has been a staple of GT3 grids since its introduction in 2016, with its current evo version being in service since 2020. The car is set to be replaced next year, however: Ferrari recently unveiled the 296 GT3, which will make its debut in the 2023 season.
The new car will have big shoes to fill, however: The 488 GT3 has amassed an astounding 429 wins in 770 starts across both the standard and evo versions at the time of writing, including victories at the 24 Hours of Spa and the Bathurst 12-Hour. The top step at the Nürburgring 24 Hours is still missing in the list of successes, not just for the 488, but Ferrari in general – without a doubt, the legendary Italian manufacturer will look to right this wrong with the 296 in the future.