24h Le Mans
Ferrari has released design details and early sketches of the Ferrari 499P Hypercar that won the 2023 24 Hours its first time out.
The design of the Ferrari 499P strictly adheres to the sporting and technical regulations of the Hypercar class, the top category in the FIA WEC and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The development process was divided into three phases: the initial concept, the convergence between stylistic and technical aspects and finalisation when track tests and homologation produced the end product.
Communication and cooperation between Ferrari departments were crucial. Carlo Palazzani, Ferrari Head of Sports Cars Exterior Design: "We first had to understand the limitations of the project while bringing to bear all of the experience we've gained with road cars. As modern designers, our strength lies in a range of software that allows us to communicate seamlessly and efficiently with the engineering department. The result? A solid aesthetic and functional definition of the overall lines of the 499, which, thanks to its win at Le Mans, help make it a modern-day icon."
Ferrari was sure to give the Hypercar an instantly recognisable design. Flavio Manzoni, Ferrari Senior VP of Design: "We wanted the 499P to be the most beautiful car on the starting grid." The project drew from previously garnered experience and added new elements. "We had experimented with cars designed for the track such as the FXX K and its Evo version, working to determine the level of synergy we could create between the designers and engineers. However, this was a very different and even more ambitious project since the 499P was designed to win.”
The 499P features clear references to Ferrari's style traditions. Francesco Russo, Ferrari Head Designer: "On one hand, the design includes fluid lines and majestic shapes, on the other, flatter surfaces and taut lines. Examples of the first descriptors can be found in cars from the 1960s, such as the 250 GTO, and examples of the second come from the 1970s. The 499P features the latter language on the rear, which ends with a taut, minimalist and iconic luminous blade."
Inspired by the 1970s, the livery of the 499P pays tribute to the 312 PB, the last Ferrari to compete in the top endurance racing class before this year. Silvia Cavallaro, Head of Colour & Trim: "We reinterpreted the prototype's livery to correspond perfectly to the 499P's lines, emphasising its alluring shapes and giving dynamism to the car. We developed a new colour called Rosso Le Mans for the 2023 season. The same hue, but with a matte finish, was also used this year for Ferrari's Formula 1 single-seaters. We opted for a glossy finish for the Hypercar to stand out even during nighttime portions of races. This particular red was combined with Giallo Modena yellow."
The Ferrari 499P is more than a simple Hypercar. It embodies the essence of Italian passion and engineering, combining striking design with cutting-edge technology. The success of the project would have been unattainable without such close collaboration between the Ferrari designers and engineers. The car embodies the perfect unions between past and present, style and technology, design and performance. The win earned by AF Corse's #51 Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans Centenary undoubtedly made everyone at the Italian marque extremely proud.
