The celebration of the show at the Imola gala evening, hundreds of guests in the hall, thousands of viewers in online streaming and a red car at the center of attention. So on Saturday evening he began writing the history of the special Ferrari 499P, a hybrid hypercar, with which the Italian team will return to the premier class at Le Mans next year after 50 years.
The race debut of the two new 499P specials will take place on March 17 in Sebring, Florida, where the new season of the FIA WEC World Endurance Championship kicks off with a 1,000-mile race.
The hybrid hypercar has all-wheel drive, similar to future LMH competitors Toyota and Peugeot. The basis of the power unit is a twin-turbo six-cylinder that works with an electric motor on the front axle. The internal combustion engine shares the same architecture with the one under the hood of another new special racing Ferrari 296 GT3. The total power of the hypercar is 500 kW.
Return after fifty years
Ferrari last fought for overall victory at Le Mans in 1973. That time the 312PB-73 no. 16 by Arturo Merzario, Carlos Pace, has finally succumbed to the French competition, with Henri Pescarolo and Gérard Larrouse winning on their home track at La Sarthe. They took turns in the cockpit of the special Matra-Simca MS670B # 11.
Even before that, however, Ferrari had won nine overall triumphs at Le Mans (the first in 1949, the last in the 1965 season) and thus ranks third in the historical standings. Only the German brands Audi (13) and Porsche (19) have achieved more wins at La Sarthe.
Ferrari has a big goal ahead of it. To obtain a jubilee tenth absolute triumph in a year in which the 24 Hours of Le Mans will celebrate 100 years since its inception. How will it end? We will find out on the weekend of 10-11. June.
Two years of development
That magical moment occurred on February 24, 2021. It was then that Ferrari officially announced that it would enter the FIA WEC World Endurance Championship with its own hypercar in the 2023 season, making it the first race ever to win at Le Mans since. 50 years.
Another milestone was then conquered on 6 July this year. At exactly 9:37 in the morning, Ferrari factory driver Alessandro Pier Guidi had the honor of completing the shakedown with the new car for the first time. Naturally it took place in Fiorano.
“After many months in the simulator, I finally had the opportunity to drive in a real car and it was an extraordinary experience. It was very exciting for me to drive the Ferrari, which after fifty years will bring this brand back to the top class of the world. endurance races, “said an experienced driver who worked extensively for Ferrari in the WEC in the LMGTE – PRO class.
From the first drive in Fiorano, there have been several other tests, in particular on the tracks of Portimao and Monza. Ferrari has already appeared there with two cars. It will also feature two LMH specials for the next full WEC season.
The official team will start under the Ferrari – AF Corse banner. This will deepen the brand’s partnership with the Amato Ferrari team. For the Italian manufacturer, in the recent past it has won, for example, 6 titles of the brand in the WEC in the context of the LMGTE – PRO, and this year it is in a duel with Porsche and Corvette in the fight for seventh place. It will be decided on November 12 in Bahrain.
Equestrian formations
There will be two chosen trios, each for one of the 499P hypercars. Even though Charles Leclerc, for example, has made it known that Le Mans with Ferrari is very tempting for him, the Monegasque will not be watching La Sarthe yet.
Ferrari will select among its official drivers for the GT program who have extensive experience in endurance racing, the WEC and Le Mans. The six selected have not yet been confirmed, but most likely they will be selected by this group: Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, Miguel Molina, Antonio Fuoco, Daniel Serra, Davide Rigon, Nicklas Nielsen, Alessio Rovera.
