THE FERRARI 499P IS READY TO RACE THIS YEAR - CHECK OUT SOME OF THE BTS DEVELOPMENT
In late October of 2022, Ferrari introduced the 499P, its newest hybrid race car set to compete in the FIA WEC World Endurance Championship and if all goes right, potentially at the next round of the prestigious LeMans 24-hour race. This new full race-spec model conforms to all current and necessary FIA rules and is built on an all-new carbon-fibre monocoque chassis, featuring a mid-rear ICE unit combined with an electric motor powering the front axle. The Ferrari 499P's internal combustion engine is derived from the road-going twin-turbo V6, which also bears loads in the overall design and aids in the rigidity of the whole package. The hybrid powertrain is capable of producing a maximum power output of 200 kW with a combined output of 500 kW and it’s mated to a lightning-quick 7-speed sequential gearbox. Besides all of the power and the amazing tech packed into this Ferrari 499P, it has to be one of the most amazing-looking cars for this class and will no doubt look absolutely stunning on screen and also in person on track. The livery used on the 499P was inspired by the 312P's visuals from the 1970s, and the race number #50 visually underscores the historical connections that have a 50-year lineage. The hope is that the Ferrari 499P will add to the brand's 22 world titles and 9 outright wins at the very next LeMans 24-hour race it can compete in.
So now that Ferrari is finally making its comeback to the FIA World Endurance
Championship, after a whopping 50 years, the Italian automaker is set to make its grand entrance on March 17th at the 1000 Miles of Sebring, which also doubles as the opening event for the 2023 WEC race season. The Ferrari 499P Le Mans Hypercar will be piloted by two crews, each with their own number on the car. Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina, and Nicklas Nielsen will take on the track in the prototype with number 50 showing on the doors, while Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, and Antonio Giovinazzi will be rocking number 51 on its doors. These six drivers are in for one wild ride, tackling a particularly tricky road surface with asphalt and cement that's famous for its bumps and changes. The full action kicks off in Florida on March 11th and 12th with the Prologue, followed by two free practice sessions on Wednesday the 15th, and more practice on Thursday the 16th. The qualifying race takes place that same day and will determine the starting grid for the 1000 Miles race which should last a cool 8 hours, on Friday the 17th. Check out how planted and fast the 499P is on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya’s technical and fast 4.657 km track. You’ll see some astounding corner speeds thanks to all that aero and the aforementioned way the engine also bears load in the chassis design and setup.
Take a look at the YouTube video that shows off some of the behinds-the-scenes development and testing of the stunning new Ferrari 499P hybrid hypercar set to make it's LeMans debut later this year: Ferrari Hypercar | Developing the Ferrari 499P | Ferrari
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