Ferrari 296 GTB — Monaco

The 296 GTB changed the conversation about what a mid-engine Ferrari could be. An 830-horsepower hybrid V6 that revs with the kind of intensity you'd expect from a naturally aspirated twelve — except it arrives with electric torque filling every gap below the powerband. It is a genuinely modern car that still feels entirely analogue when you want it to. Renting one in Monaco puts that duality to practical use. Short of straight-line runway, the principality itself is tight corners, elevation changes and tunnel acoustics that amplify the exhaust note in ways a test track never could. But the real case for the 296 GTB here is what lies ten minutes beyond the border. The climb from La Turbie toward the Grande Corniche is a sequence of second- and third-gear switchbacks where 830 hp matters far less than mid-engine balance and the precision of the car's e-diff. The road surface is good, the sightlines are honest, and the car rewards a driver who actually steers rather than simply accelerating. Our 2023 example is the fixed-roof GTB — one variant, no convertible compromise, which means a stiffer structure and a lower centre of gravity than the Spider. For a driver who wants to feel the chassis work rather than watch the scenery scroll past an open cockpit, it is the better tool. From a practical standpoint: rates begin at €1,700 per day. Handover includes a full walkaround, deposit and insurance briefing, and a conversation about where you're headed — not because we need to know, but because the route suggestions tend to be worth hearing. Delivery to your hotel near Casino Square, a residence in the Carré d'Or, or a yacht berth at Port Hercule can be arranged to suit your schedule. If your stay coincides with the Grand Prix period, the 296 GTB makes a compelling arrival car. Low, sharp and finished in a way that reads as serious rather than theatrical, it suits the atmosphere of race weekend without competing with the circuit cars for attention. Book early for May — demand during the Grand Prix compresses availability across the fleet, and this particular car tends to be among the first reserved.