Era Motorsport will take an important step forward this weekend when it debuts its new Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo at the 2026 24H Series Michelin 12H Paul Ricard. The Indianapolis-based team arrives at the third round of the Michelin 24H Series eager to reverse its fortunes after a difficult start to the campaign.
Having already completed a comprehensive shakedown at Circuit Paul Ricard, the team now prepares to put Ferrari’s latest GT3 evolution through its first competitive test.
New Ferrari marks the next chapter for Era Motorsport in 2026 24H Series
Era Motorsport has relied on the original Ferrari 296 GT3 since joining Creventic’s Michelin 24H Series programme in early 2025. However, the team has now upgraded to the latest Evo specification in a bid to unlock additional performance and reliability.
The switch comes after extensive preparation work at Paul Ricard, where the team conducted a thorough evaluation of the new package ahead of race weekend.
Team owner Kyle Tilley expressed his enthusiasm about the debut. He highlighted the work completed during testing and praised the efforts of the team behind the scenes.
“The Michelin 12H Paul Ricard is shaping up to be an exciting weekend for Era Motorsport. We’ve been testing there with our new 296 GT3 Evo to get everything dialed in ahead of our first race weekend with the package, and the crew has done a fantastic job getting everything prepared.”
Building on a proven foundation
Despite the introduction of the Evo package, Era Motorsport already has confidence in Ferrari’s GT3 platform. The team demonstrated encouraging pace with the previous-generation car and hopes the latest specification will provide another step forward.
Tilley believes the foundations are already in place for a competitive showing.
“The 296 GT3 has already been a strong platform for us and one we’ve shown good pace with, so we’re eager to see what the Evo spec can add once we get into race conditions.”
As a result, the team enters the weekend optimistic that the upgraded machinery can help unlock its potential.
Experienced driver line-up remains intact
Era Motorsport continues its partnership with gentleman driver Dwight Merriman, whose involvement has been central to the team’s endurance racing programme.
Alongside Merriman is FIA Gold-rated driver Ryan Dalziel, who combines the roles of teammate and driver coach. The pair have also benefited from the addition of British Touring Car champion Jake Hill and experienced racer Oliver Bryant for the current campaign.
Together, the quartet provides a blend of endurance racing expertise, GT experience and proven race-winning ability.
Era Motorsport searching for a change in fortune in 2026 24H Series
Although the team has shown promise, results have not reflected its pace so far this season.
A technical problem forced an early retirement at Mugello, denying the team a strong finish in the opening round. Subsequently, a heavy accident involving Merriman at the 12H Spa-Francorchamps produced another disappointing outcome and left Era Motorsport without championship points after two events.
Nevertheless, the organisation knows it can compete at the front. A standout podium finish at the 12H Mugello in 2025 demonstrated the team’s capability in the highly competitive series. Consequently, Paul Ricard presents an opportunity to begin a much-needed recovery.
Dalziel confident ahead of debut
Ryan Dalziel also welcomed the introduction of the Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo and believes Paul Ricard offers an ideal setting for the car’s first race appearance.
“Paul Ricard is a great place to debut the Evo, and as a team we’re looking forward to building on our progress and continuing to move forward.”
Success will not come easily. Era Motorsport will face a highly competitive GT3 field featuring 14 rival entries across the event’s two six-hour races. The depth of competition means consistency, strategy and reliability will prove just as important as outright speed.
Therefore, the debut weekend for the Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo will provide a valuable early indication of how the package performs under race conditions against established opposition.
