Relatively little is known about the vehicle that Ferrari will enter into next year’s 24-hour endurance race at Le Mans, referred to as the Ferrari 499P, but its full debut is right around the corner. It’s been 50 years since the Prancing Horse’s last entry as a works team into the race’s top category, so enthusiasts everywhere are understandably waiting at the edges of their seats for clear details. Here’s what we know so far:
499P: A Genuine Ferrari —Hypercar
The “Le Mans Hypercar” (or LMH) category replaces the LMP1 class, which was previously the flagship class in the famous endurance race at Le Mans. This change was made in 2021—and Ferrari didn’t waste any time getting back into the ring.
The engineers at Maranello have pulled out all the stops to create the Ferrari Le Mans Hypercar—and their effort should be distinguished from that of their rival, Porsche. The latter has chosen to enter in the LMDh (Le Mans Daytona hybrid) class.
So, what is it that sets the race’s flagship class apart? The Ferrari hypercar that gets entered into the race will have to abide by these regulations:
- Total hybrid power output of no greater than 950 hp
- Engine output of no greater than 681 hp
- Electric output of no greater than 200 kW
- Weight of no less than 2,290 pounds
- Length of no more than 200 inches
- Cockpit width of no more than 79 inches
Official specs for the Ferrari Le Mans Hypercar are still completely under wraps. However, independent experts have suggested that they may be similar to the 296 GTS and GTB, both of which use a V6 and an electric motor to deliver sub-3-second 0–60 times.
Notably, a new spending cap for F1 racing teams has allowed Ferrari to divert more of its money and energy toward endurance racing—and we can’t wait to see what this division brings to the racetrack.
Final details on the Ferrari Le Mans Hypercar are expected by the end of October.
Where Will the Ferrari 499P Le Mans Hypercar Compete?
Designing for the LMH category allows Ferrari to compete in the top class of the FIA World Endurance Championship—which includes Le Mans—as well as the IMSA SportsCar Championship.
The World Endurance Championship is up first, and the competition’s prologue event will take place on the 11th and 12th of March, in 2023. The first official endurance race of the season is 1000 Miles of Sebring, which begins on March 17th.
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