Porsche 911 GT3 RS, McLaren Artura spied leaving Ferrari headquarters

Italian car-maker Ferrari could be using the Porsche 911 GT3 RS and McLaren Artura as benchmarks for its next high-power supercar, based on footage from the Prancing Horse’s factory.

In a video uploaded to social media platform Instagram, spy photographer ‘Varryx’ captured a new 992-generation Porsche 911 GT3 RS leaving Ferrari’s headquarters in Maranello, Italy.

The spy photographer was also able to film a McLaren Artura – the direct competitor to the new Ferrari 296 supercar, both using V6 hybrid power – departing the facility.

The Ferrari 296 was unveiled in 2021 as the Italian marque’s first model with a V6 engine since the Dino-branded sports cars of the late 1950s to early 1970s – and is powered by a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 engine and electric motors.

While the McLaren Artura sighting is not unusual – as it is common for car manufacturers to purchase, test-drive and pull apart new models from their rivals – the presence of the Porsche hints at plans for a more hardcore 296.

The Ferrari 296 is more road-oriented than the Porsche 911 GT3 RS, which became the fastest non-turbo production car to lap the Nürburgring in October 2022 – and offers hardcore, Formula One-inspired aerodynamics that current versions of the Ferrari lack.

Ferrari’s testing – or "benchmarking" as it is known in the industry – of the 911 GT3 RS suggests it is planning on producing a hotter 296 to compete with the German supercar, though this version could be at least two years away, based on the Italian brand’s usual model cycle.

Track-focused versions of Ferrari road cars typically follow four years after the introduction of the standard model.

It is perhaps more curious that Ferrari is testing a McLaren Artura, given the British supercar and the 296 are powered by 120-degree twin-turbo V6 engines with hybrid assistance – and the Ferrari was launched to market first.

However, it could simply be a case of Ferrari wanting to keep an eye on its competitors, and learn where its own cars can be improved – given McLaren repeatedly delayed the Artura’s launch to resolve teething development problems.

Ferrari will could also lean on its 296 GT3 racer to influence upgrades for the road car’s higher-performance version, following the model’s racing debut earlier this year.