Ferrari has unveiled its new endurance LMH type Le Mans hypercar at Imola, where it went around the track alongside the new 296 GT3 racer.
With an eye to take on the 2023 Le Mans it marks Ferrari’s return to top tier endurance racing some 50 years after the 312P’s last run in 1973.
Ferrari abandoned its sports car endurance efforts to focus on its ailing Formula 1 program after a sustained lack of competitiveness.
The new hypercar will make its debut in March where it will contest the 1000 Miles of Sebring at the Sebring International Raceway in Florida, America.
Since it’s not an LMDh type, Ferrari was able to develop its own chassis for the 499P, whereas the LMDh chassis must come from either the Dallara, Multimatic, Ligier or Oreca manufacturers.
It tops out at 670 horsepower and uses a hybrid system like the LMDh: It is however – unlike the LMDh models – a four wheel drive, with an Xtrac seven-speed sequential transmission, which sends power form the gas engine to its rear wheels, while a differential splits the torque from the single ratio electric motor upfront.
The 499P derives its name from the Ferrari racing tradition, a reference to the displacement of its 2992-cc-twin turbocharged V-6 that shares the architecture of the engine found in the new 296 GT3.
The engine has however been re-worked to also fulfil its purpose as a load-bearing piece of the structure of the 499P.
The electric motor situated at the front axle is powered with a 900v battery pack, and is charged with an ERS (Engine Recovery System) that recharges in deceleration and braking with no external power required.
The concept for the new hybrid started with simulated tests in late 2020, before a relatively quick turn around to its build and its testing. And while it has more relation to Ferrari’s F1 in terms of its aero and chassis, the new GT3 was a big influence in its internal design and performance, and the two machines were tested alongside one-another.
