Scarperia e San Piero, 28 October 2023 -
Ferrari presented the 499P Modificata, a strictly limited-series car for
non-competitive track use, at the Ferrari World Finals at the Mugello Circuit
today to celebrate the company’s historic return to the top class of endurance
racing in the 2023 season. The 499P Modificata is a substantially modified
version of the 499P that triumphed in the Centenary edition of the 24 Hours of
Le Mans in June this year, and aims at setting a new benchmark for track
driving thrills.
Designed for a very select clientele, the 499P Modificata
represents a new kind of project for Ferrari: a track-only model developed
directly from a racing car rather than a production model, but without the
limitations imposed by technical regulations. While the 499P Modificata is
based on the 499P, not having to comply with FIA WEC sporting and technical
parameters has allowed Ferrari’s engineering team to introduce a number of
significant modifications that enhance driving thrills and make the car’s performance
more accessible.
The major technical modifications between the 499P Modificata
and the 499P include the electric axle and four-wheel drive that can be
activated even at low speeds; the “Push to Pass” function, which offers drivers
the option of an extra 120 kW of power; specific tyres developed by Pirelli,
and a complete recalibration of the suspension set-up, electronic controllers
and engine mappings.
The 499P Modificata retains the cockpit, with its single-seater
layout, and ergonomics of the 499P, providing clients with exactly the same
driving experience as the crews who drove the racing cars #50 and #51 that took
the win, Hyperpole and fastest lap in the race at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Its obvious derivation from the 499P makes the 499P Modificata
the highest-performance closed-wheel car that Ferrari has ever proposed for
non-competitive use on the track. The cars will be fielded in the new Sport
Prototipi Clienti programme that, from 2024, will run alongside the existing F1
Clienti programme. This enables 499P Modificata owners to participate in a
number of events on international tracks every year, with Ferrari taking care
of logistics, track-side assistance and maintenance.
POWERTRAIN
The 499P Modificata’s hybrid powertrain combines a mid-rear
mounted internal combustion V6 with an electric motor on the front axle. The
system can deliver a maximum power output of 640 kW (870 cv), unhampered as it
is by FIA-ACO regulations. The ICE shares the architecture of the power unit
fitted to the 296 GT3 but has been completely revised by Ferrari engineers to
develop dedicated solutions and lower the total weight.
A particularly distinctive characteristic of the 499P
Modificata’s V6 engine is the fact that it is load-bearing, so it performs a
valuable structural function, compared to the GT racers where the engine is
mounted on a sub-chassis.
The powertrain is equipped with a 200 kW (272 cv) electric motor
with a differential and an Energy Recovery System (ERS) which recharges the
battery during deceleration and braking. The 800 volt battery pack was
developed using the company’s Formula 1 experience. The power unit is coupled
to a seven-speed sequential gearbox.
ARCHITECTURE
Sporting an all carbon-fibre monocoque chassis, the 499P
Modificata features state-of-the-art solutions such as push-rod suspension, and
a sophisticated braking system incorporating brake-by-wire that allows the
electric front axle to recover energy during braking.
The mechanical set-up (centrally-mounted shock absorbers and
springs, anti-roll bars) has been specially designed to maximise driving
thrills and ensure that the car behaves predictably in all conditions. The
engine and driveability maps were fine-tuned according to the same philosophy;
specific traction control logic was developed to facilitate torque management
at the grip limit, and a dedicated start-assist logic was also introduced.
With respect to the 499P, the 499P Modificata uses specific
Pirelli tyres that were developed for predictable handling and to maximise
feedback in non-competitive driving, making them quick to warm up and promoting
consistent grip levels for multiple laps over sheer peak performance.
VEHICLE
DYNAMICS
Not having to comply with the FIA WEC regulations allowed the
engineers to introduce new solutions on the 499P Modificata. The first regards
activating the front axle at low speed (the 499P was limited to speeds above
190 km/h) enabling the driver to benefit from four-wheel drive. This solution
offers advantages in terms of performance and driveability, making it possible
to exploit the additional grip offered by the front wheels, and to optimise the
distribution of torque between the axles. The result is a car that feels even
more responsive and precise coming out of turns, making it easier for drivers
to find the best racing lines, and inspiring confidence in driving to the limit
in a car that is capable of extraordinary performance.
Another important modification made possible by the 499P
Modificata’s freedom from specific regulatory constraints is the introduction
of the “Push to Pass” system. This lets the driver benefit from 120 kW (163 cv)
of power available for a limited period of time during the lap in addition to
the nominal 520 kW (707 cv) output, thus achieving a total maximum power of 640
kW (870 cv). The logic is conceptually similar to that introduced in Formula 1
in 2009 with the KERS system.
The driver can activate the system using a button on the back of
the steering wheel; the extra power is only available when the accelerator is
pushed to full throttle and for a duration of no more than 7 seconds per
activation. The maximum number of activations per lap depends on the track type
and battery energy balance: the system automatically deactivates below a
certain charge threshold and then reactivates when energy recovery has
recharged the battery to an appropriate level.
The 499P Modificata is equipped with specific tyres - 310/710-18
front and 340/710-18 rear - developed by Pirelli starting with virtual
simulations. Based on FIA regulations, the slick design features a dedicated
structure and tread compound derived from F1 technology. Development was aimed
at emphasising the car’s driveability and maximising handling feedback for
non-professional drivers, optimising warm up times and reducing performance
degradation during long runs. The rain tyre also boasts a new tread pattern and
compound and was developed to ensure the best grip in semi-wet and full-wet
conditions.
STYLING
The design of the 499P Modificata was defined in collaboration
with the Ferrari Styling Centre directed by Flavio Manzoni. The car flaunts its
technical and aerodynamic qualities through simple, sinuous forms in an
explicit expression of its Ferrari DNA.
The flat upper surface of the flanks is sculpted to harmoniously
give form to the side pods and wheelarches. The latter are characterised by
large openings, with the aim of reducing pressure inside the wheel housings.
The headlights lend the front end character and an expressive quality, their
design closely evoking the styling cues that make the car instantly
recognisable as a Ferrari.
The rear epitomises the combination of technology, aerodynamics
and design. A lightweight carbon-fibre skin wraps around the powertrain,
leaving wheels and suspension completely exposed. The tail is characterised by
a horizontal double wing, with the upper profile carefully designed to produce
the required downforce. The lower wing also houses a light bar that lends the
design of the rear end a decisive, minimalist character. A multiple air intake
for the V6 engine and for cooling the battery and gearbox dominates the car’s
roof.
SPORT
PROTOTIPI CLIENTI
Ferrari’s unparalleled history has been written in part by the
many models that have taken part in endurance racing, with prestigious results
in both the GT and sports-prototype categories. From the company’s beginnings
to 1973, Ferrari took nine overall victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans,
followed this year by its 10th win with the 499P.
The 499P Modificata was developed specifically to celebrate this
glorious history in endurance racing with an exclusive car that could follow in
the footsteps of those legends. With effect from 2024, the Corse Clienti
department will organise the “Sport Prototipi Clienti” programme where 499P
Modificata owners will be able to rely on Ferrari assistance with maintenance
and support – both technical and logistical – for all dedicated track events.