You stand trackside, watching the legendary curves of the Eau Rouge-Raidillon complex—steep, flowing, almost mythic. Time has shaped the track, but the essence remains untouched. Then, you step into the Ferrari hospitality and boxes—the beating heart of modern endurance motorsport (ask the Le Mans crowd if you need proof)—and you feel that same aura again. Different form. Same soul.

That’s exactly what the new Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo evokes. Behind its aerodynamic precision, enhanced drivability, and engineering wizardry that blurs the line between motorsport and aerospace, there’s something deeper at work: Ferrari’s profound awareness of its own mythos—and the constant, almost instinctive push to evolve. Success isn’t a stopping point. Certainty is never the goal. Evolution is the rule.

“It’s part of Ferrari’s DNA,” says Antonello Coletta, Global Head of Ferrari Endurance and Corse Clienti, as he introduces our conversation with Andrea Bertolini—a driver who’s devoted decades of his life to Ferrari, beginning as the youngest test driver in the company’s history at just 19, and now, with 10 world motorsport titles to his name, continues a lifelong, highly skilled love story with Enzo Ferrari’s legacy.

There could hardly be a more fitting place than this motorsport cathedral—carved into the wooded hills of the Ardennes—to reveal the latest fusion of Ferrari ambition and innovation. That’s what Bertolini, Ferrari Ambassador Driver, reflects on as he speaks. And in his words, one thing becomes clear: there is no lasting success without shared passion, a sense of belonging, and a deep-rooted culture of excellence. That’s the spirit behind the 296 GT3 Evo. And it’s the spirit that still drives Ferrari forward.

Andrea Bertolini – Ferrari Development Driver 

“I’ve been lucky enough to become the youngest test driver in Ferrari’s history. That meant I got to be part of the development of every single one of our race cars. It’s been—still is—an incredible journey. In this specific case, we were coming off a winning car already, the 296 GT3 ‘standard’. But after two and a half years of racing around the world, we gathered a list of little things that could be better. That’s the Ferrari philosophy: always ask, what’s next? How do we go further? So we put all those observations together and launched the development program. Seeing the final car revealed here today—it still gives me goosebumps. Even after 30 years in this job. Honestly, it always does.

Inside the Ferrari family, besides helping shape projects like this one, I’ve naturally taken on the role of the “older brother.” Many in the team see me that way, and I’m proud of it. I’m constantly in conversation with Antonello Coletta (Ferrari’s Global Head of Endurance) and with our drivers. I especially love listening and talking with those behind the wheel, like me. Helping them understand just what a privilege—and responsibility—it is to drive for Ferrari. It’s always been a unique experience to me, something that demands not only performance, but a certain presence and mindset. But these guys are incredible. Like I said, I often play the older brother—sometimes just a glance between us is enough to understand what’s going on and fix it right there. That’s one of the most rewarding parts of what I do.

The human touch is still essential in improving a race car. Of course, we live in a time when technology and simulation dominate. They allow us to push the boundaries of detail, down to a microscopic level. The bar is so high now—and the competition so tight—that even the smallest improvement can make a difference. It used to be about the big changes. Now, what really matters is how well a driver and engineer communicate. The way you describe a problem, how urgent it really is… that’s where the difference lies between a good driver and a great one. It’s about relationships. Teams work best when they’re motivated properly and getting clear feedback. A special driver knows how to deliver that—even in an era driven by tech.

People often ask me how I still get emotional over a car. They know I drive every day. Literally everything—any race car you can think of. But my answer is always the same: that feeling of arriving at the track in the morning and climbing into a Ferrari? It’s priceless. It’s been 30 years, and still—every single time—it moves me. Even after driving every formula car out there. And every Ferrari ever made. Being part of Ferrari has been the greatest professional privilege of my life. Not just for the cars—but for the people I work with and the passion we share. Every day, I treat it like day one. That’s what keeps me engaged. A new emotion, every day. Because engines—and Ferrari, especially—teach you one thing: there’s always more to give. And always more to learn.”