Mat Armstrong’s rebuilt Ferrari 296 restricted at the Nürburgring for wing size and noise
Mat Armstrong drove his restored Ferrari 296 to the Nürburgring only to be limited to a single lap after officials flagged an oversized rear wing and excess noise. He later rejoined the circuit using the car’s electric mode.
By CarNews247 Reporter ·
Mat Armstrong took the Ferrari 296 GTB he rebuilt to the Nürburgring — but the track didn’t give him the full welcome he expected. Officials flagged the car over its rear wing and noise levels, allowing only a single lap before restricting further running.
Armstrong has been quietly turning up the workbench for some time, restoring a crash-damaged 296 after an earlier reluctance from Ferrari to help with repairs. He eventually finished the project and set off to Germany to stretch the hybrid supercar’s legs.
He travelled to the Ring in company — the trip included a Lamborghini Huracán and an Audi R8 — and even ran into trouble before he arrived, with the 296 running critically low on fuel about 20 minutes from the circuit. The car reached a hotel as the local filling station was closed.
"There’s a tortoise on the dash. In the history of me working on cars, I’ve ever seen a tortoise come on the dash," said Mat Armstrong, YouTuber.
Why the 296 was restricted
At the track, a circuit official told Armstrong the rear wing was not acceptable under local rules. The official said the problem wasn’t the material but the size: the wing makes the car longer, and that meant the 296’s aero package ran afoul of the regulations.
"This wing is not possible in Germany… It’s not because of the material. It’s because of the size. Because the wing makes your car longer," said an unnamed track official.
Armstrong was permitted one lap — which he enjoyed — but was then removed for exceeding the track’s noise limits. He said the decision felt abrupt given officials had already raised concerns about the exhaust before they set off.
"We’ve literally come all the way here for one lap. The car’s too loud. Too much," said Mat Armstrong, YouTuber.
Rather than head home, Armstrong found a workaround: he used the 296’s electric mode to eliminate exhaust noise and slipped back onto the circuit. He later described the tactic with a hint of relief.
"We absolutely stealthed up. Maybe hybrid isn’t so bad after all," said Mat Armstrong, YouTuber.
In the end, Armstrong and his friends got more driving time than they first expected, even if it meant relying on the 296’s battery to stay within the letter — if not the spirit — of the rules.
Source: Supercar Blondie
