Imola, 29th October 2022 – 499P is the name of the new Le
Mans Hypercar with which Ferrari will tackle the FIA WEC in the elite class
from 2023, a name evoking the history of the Prancing Horse manufacturer. In
the past, prototypes were identified by the letter ‘P’, frequently preceded by
the number of the engine’s unitary displacement. The 499P is no exception. The
car is an outcome of a vision proudly rooted in the past, that gave rise to the
legend of today, enabling the company to achieve 22 world titles and 9 overall
wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Nevertheless, it has its sights set firmly on
the future, both in terms of the technical and design content that the
prototype features. The livery, with which the 499P will debut at the
forthcoming 1000 Miles of Sebring, includes a revived version of the renowned
312 P colour scheme from the 1970s, which also visually underscores the
historical connections interrupted 50 years ago, but that have remained ever
present in the brand’s essence. For this reason, one of the Maranello-entered
endurance cars will be adorned with the number 50, while the other will bear
the number 51, one of the most successful ever. The official line-up of who
will race the 499P will be the subject of future communications.
Le Mans Hypercar: winning DNA
The new FIA (Fédération Internationale
de l’Automobile) and ACO (Automobile Club de l’Ouest) technical regulations
outlined for the Hypercar class have led Ferrari to embark on an innovation and
development path to produce a Le Mans Hypercar (LMH), faithful to tradition,
that sees the track as the ideal terrain for developing cutting-edge
technological solutions to be integrated onto its road cars. The 499P is a
manifesto to Ferrari’s commitment to endurance racing.
The four-wheel drive prototype complies
with the technical regulations and requirements of the hybrid-engined Le Mans
Hypercar class, delivering a maximum power of 500 kW to the wheels and with a
minimum weight of no less than 1,030 kilos. In defining the 499P, the company has
drawn on the vast resources of technical, professional and human excellence
that epitomise the Maranello marque, entrusting the management to Attività
Sportive GT, under the direction of Antonello Coletta and the technical
supervision of Ferdinando Cannizzo, head of the department in charge of
engineering and development of Sports and GT racing cars.
New hybrid power
The 499P’s hybrid powertrain combines a
mid-rear power unit with an electric motor powering the front axle. The
internal combustion engine (ICE) has a maximum regulation-limited output to the
wheels of 500 kW (680 cv) and is derived from the road-going twin-turbo V6
family. The ICE, which shares the architecture of the engine fitted to the 296
GT3, has undergone a thorough overhaul by Ferrari’s engineers, aimed both at
developing ad hoc solutions for the prototype and lightening the overall
weight. Among the specific characteristics of the 499P’s V6 is the fact that
the engine is load-bearing and therefore performs a valuable structural function,
compared to the versions fitted to competition GT cars, where the engine is
mounted onto the car’s rear sub-chassis. The second ‘soul’ of the hybrid
powertrain is the ERS – Energy Recovery System – with a maximum power output of
200 kW (272 cv). The electric motor is equipped with a differential and is
driven by a battery that is recharged during deceleration and braking,
requiring no external power source. The battery pack, with a nominal voltage of
900v, benefits from experience honed in Formula 1, although it was
purpose-built for the project. The 499P’s overall maximum power output is 500
kW (680 cv) and the powertrain is coupled to a seven-speed sequential gearbox.
Wind designed
The design of the new Ferrari 499P was
refined with the support of the Ferrari Styling Centre under the direction of
Flavio Manzoni. The car’s technical and aerodynamic features have been
enhanced by means of simple, sinuous shapes: – an explicit expression of
Ferrari’s DNA. The balance between tense lines and flowing surfaces, expressed
in a futuristic, pure and iconic language, defines a clear yet essential
architecture. The bodywork of the prototype is sculpted from a flat surface,
from which the side pods and wheelarches develop harmoniously. Aerodynamic
flows pass through the side pods over the recesses between the main ridges
surrounding the cockpit, cooling the radiators concealed beneath the bodywork.
On the Ferrari 499P, the surface area of the wheel arches, a Ferrari hallmark,
are characterised by large louvres, aimed at reducing the pressure inside the
wheel housings. Together with the headlight clusters, they imbue the nose with
a sense of character and expressiveness, with subtle references to the styling
traits first introduced on the Ferrari Daytona SP3.
The rear is the ultimate expression of
how to blend technology, aerodynamics and design. A subtle carbon-fibre skin
covers the various functions, leaving the wheels and suspension completely visible.
The tail is characterised by a double horizontal wing; the main wing and upper
flaps have been meticulously designed to guarantee the necessary downforce and
achieve maximum performance.
The lower wing also features a ‘light
bar’ that enriches the rear design with a decisive yet minimalist touch.
Finally, in a dominant position above the car is a multiple air intake that
feeds the V6 engine intake and supplies cooling air to the battery and gearbox.
Innovative technologies
Built on an all-new carbon-fibre
monocoque chassis, the Ferrari 499P features solutions that represent the
cutting edge of motor sport technology. The geometry of the double wishbone,
push-rod-type suspension results in outstanding qualities of damping stiffness,
the benefits of which are evident at both maximum velocity as well as in
cornering. The electronics systems are developed from and further innovate upon
the experience honed in the world of GT racing.
No less sophisticated is the braking
system, which integrates a brake-by-wire system necessary to allow the recovery
of kinetic energy by the front electric axle under braking. The system has been
developed to combine precision and speed of response with reliability and
durability, complementary aspects that are one of the keys to success in
endurance racing. The electric front axle uses energy recovered while braking,
storing it in the high-voltage battery before transmitting torque to the front
wheels when a certain speed is attained, thus helping boost the performance on
the tracks scheduled to host the 2023 calendar.
Partnership with AF Corse
The Ferrari 499P will be managed on
track by Maranello technicians and engineers with the collaboration of AF
Corse. The partnership continues the winning streak which began in the 2006 FIA
GT with the F430 GT2 that secured Team, Driver and Constructor titles in its
debut season. The vast majority of GT successes in recent years have been the
result of the partnership between Ferrari and AF Corse, including all those
achieved in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) since its inception in 2012.
Quotes
John Elkann, Ferrari Executive
Chairman: “The 499 P sees us return to compete for outright victory in the
WEC series. When we decided to commit to this project, we embarked on a path of
innovation and development, faithful to our tradition that sees the track as
the ideal terrain to push the boundaries of cutting-edge technological
solutions, solutions that in time will be transferred to our road cars. We
enter this challenge with humility, but conscious of a history that has taken
us to over 20 world endurance titles and 9 overall victories at the 24 Hours of
Le Mans.”.
Antonello Coletta, Head of Ferrari
Attività Sportive GT: “The 499P is a dream come true. Today is an
important moment for all the people who have worked so hard on this project
over the past two years. We wanted to pay homage to our history, with many
references, both large and small, to a past made up of successes and titles. We
do so however, looking ahead, creating a manifesto of our commitment to the
world endurance championship. The 499P is a prototype that is decidedly
Ferrari, in the fullest sense of the term, and it gives us an enormous thrill
to finally show it to our clients and to the many enthusiasts of the marque”.
Ferdinando Cannizzo, Head of Ferrari GT
Track Car Development: “For the whole team and myself, this is a really
thrilling moment. We know that we have a huge responsibility. We have designed
and engineered a car that is brand new and particularly complex in every
aspect. This unprecedented challenge motivated everyone into all-encompassing,
all-sharing collaboration involving every department of our company and our
technical partners. Starting from a blank sheet of paper was a source of unique
and continuous motivation in order to find effective solutions to guarantee the
499P’s performance and reliability. From the very first shakedown to the first
race, we have planned a very intense development programme, both on the test
bench and on the track, which has given us some interesting feedback. The work
of synthesis that awaits us over the coming weeks, and which will see us
involved in further track testing, is the most important for fine-tuning and
the final integration of all the systems. We still have a lot of kilometres to
go, but the team is aware of the importance of the project and will continue to
show commitment, passion, maturity and great professionalism.”