24h Le Mans
Hypercars under the microscope | When the Ferrari 499P first ventured onto the racetrack in early 2023, it immediately conquered the hearts of most endurance fans. Two 24 Hours of Le Mans wins later, the Italian Hypercar has never been so popular. We take a closer look to understand why the favourite for the 93rd running of the French endurance classic performs so remarkably well.
The 499P was destined for a brilliant future right from the drawing board. True to form, the Maranello workshops put together a car that is crammed with cutting-edge technology. Could this be the recipe for creating an icon?
What better place to start than the engine? While many different architectures were contemplated, Ferrari eventually opted for the V6 as the firm already had a very solid basis, used in the road-going Ferrari 296 GTB. The designers selected the 3-litre, twin-turbo V6 with an angle of 120° – the highest vee-angle of all Hypercar engine blocks.
The two turbochargers can therefore be easily accommodated inside the vee, between the cylinder banks, whereas they are generally positioned outside the vee on more conventional engines. This highly compact “hot-vee” architecture is a space saver that offering greater freedom in terms of positioning. It forms an integral part of the chassis on the 499P, contrary to the Ferrari 296 GTB. The work involved has paid off. “The engine has been redesigned specifically for the 499P. We dedicated around 1,000 hours of development to reliability testing,” says Lucio Calogero, who heads the department that oversees the endurance campaign powertrains. The engine is coupled to a seven-speed Xtrac sequential gearbox.
And there’s more. The 499P also sports a Motor Generation Unit (MGU) capable of delivering 270 hp to the front wheels. The batteries are charged during braking, meaning the Ferrari Hypercar can be switched to four-wheel drive above 190 kph – the threshold allowed for the 499P under the Balance of Performance system. The feature is a distinct advantage over the Porsche 963, the BMW M Hybrid V8, Alpine A424, Aston Martin Valkyrie and the Cadillac V-Series.R, which do not have it. "In fast corners, as in the Porsche curves, you can save on rear tyres, as the front axle also carries the car along. In the wet, this is all the more useful because it provides more grip,” says Ye Yifei, driver of the AF Corse #83 Ferrari 499P.
To win Le Mans you need to master aerodynamics. FIA World Endurance Championship rules dictate the amount of downforce cars can generate, to ensure fair competition. Put simply, the more you try and pin the car to the ground on corners, the more you have to increase drag, which inevitably means less speed on the straights. You can’t have one without the other, and that’s why it’s difficult to gain a competitive edge in this area. Yet the 499P has managed it, particularly at Le Mans, where the long straights favour Hypercars with less drag.
The Italian carmaker has drawn on its Formula One experience, calling on its many single-seater engineering experts. Ferdinando Cannizzo, head of Ferrari endurance campaigns and an aerodynamics expert, has transferred his experience between disciplines. He explains the approach, but doesn’t give away any secrets: “It suits Le Mans very well, because we designed it to be competitive here. [It worked: two victories and a Hyperpole in two years] That’s why, at the start, we were struggling on other tracks,” he says. They managed to strike the right balance after a while and won the FIA WEC round on the winding Imola circuit.
From the outside, the Ferrari 499P is unmistakeable. Other than its famous red livery with yellow stripes – the colours of Modena, where Enzo Ferrari was born – its sharp lines and double wing give it a menacing look that fans love! The 499P has rapidly achieved icon status in today’s endurance circles, thanks to its track record, of course, and also because of its sharp yet harmonious outline.
It’s no good having a prototype that’s only fast on straights or on one lap. With three drivers sharing a car, the winning car is often the best all-rounder. The Ferrari drivers are unanimous. Robert Kubica, driver of the #83, says it best: “It’s essential to understand that there are three of us driving. When the whole team has the same vision, it’s easier, but that’s not always the case; some have different styles, and opposing views on the direction to take. An endurance prototype needs to have a wide range of use, as wide as possible, actually. And it’s up to us to adapt. If the 499P were too sharp, it would suit someone better, but we’d perform less well and be much more subject to changing conditions,” he explains.
It’s up to drivers to adapt to their cars, but the car should show up and do its thing whoever is at the wheel, and whatever the weather. Ferrari set great store by the car’s driveability and versatility. The latter is what makes Cannizzo most proud. “It doesn’t stand out in any one particular area. It’s the combination of a large number of elements that make the Ferrari 499P a brilliant car.” Seasoned single-seater driver Kubica is just as enthusiastic. “I liked it straight away. The feedback is very direct, and if I had to describe it in one word, I’d say driveable.”
Like last year, there are three Ferrari 499Ps on the 24 Hours of Le Mans grid this week, each with an equal chance of winning. The Italian marque is prevailing so far this season, with three wins in three races (including a one-two-three sweep in Qatar), and three pole positions. The prancing horse is therefore a hot favourite.
Don’t miss the other episodes in our “Hypercars under the microscope” series in which we analyse the prototypes in the high-quality field.
Next up, the Porsche 963 entered by Porsche Penske Motorsport and Proton Competition.
Already published: Peugeot 9X8, BMW M Hybrid V8, Aston Martin Valkyrie, Alpine A424 and Cadillac V-Series.R.
Watch all the action from the FIA World Endurance Championship, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, live or on demand with the FIA WEC TV official app! Don’t miss a thing! Check out the app for further information.
