This weekend Imola will host the Finali Mondiali, Ferrari’s annual festival, and one of the highlights of the program was the presentation of the latest Ferrari 499P hypercar. The event is highly anticipated as the Italian company prepares for the first time in half a century to return to the highest category of endurance racing to compete for overall victory.
The four-wheel drive sports prototype, powered by a twin-turbocharged V6 hybrid powertrain, will make its competition debut in March 2023 at the US 1000 Mile Sebring Race.
The 499P livery is reminiscent of the 312 P sports prototypes used by Ferrari factory racers in the early 1970s half a century ago. The LMH was built in Maranello by the Attività Sportive GT division, which is responsible for the programs in sports car and GT racing, under the technical direction of Ferdinando Canizzo.
The car has a hybrid power plant for the rear axle, while the electrical part drives the front wheels. The combustion engine was created on the basis of the V6 engines used in Ferrari sports cars, but it was thoroughly redesigned, many original solutions were used and the weight was reduced.
The hybrid part, the ERS system, develops 272 hp, and in its development the specialists of the Italian company took advantage of the rich experience gained in Formula 1. The total power of the power plant is limited to 500 kW ( 680 hp), and for torque transmission, torque is delivered to the wheels by a seven-speed sequential gearbox.
The heart of the car is a completely new chassis, carbon fiber monocoque; the suspension uses double wishbones, pushrods and rods that on the one hand provide the necessary stability and sturdiness and on the other hand ensure that you can take corners at high speed.
The 499P sports prototypes will be driven on the track by the AF Corse team, which have traditionally had close ties to Ferrari. The names of the riders who will be entrusted to represent the legendary Italian brand in the WEC have not yet been named.
John Elkann, Ferrari president: “With the 499P, we are back in the WEC to fight for the overall win. When we decided to take on this project, we chose an innovative development path, while staying true to our traditions. This translates into the fact that the racetrack remains the ideal testing ground for testing the latest technological solutions that will eventually be transferred to our production cars.
We are taking on this challenge with our history in mind, as Ferrari has won 20 endurance titles and 9 24 Hours of Le Mans titles in the past.
Source: F1 News
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