24h Le Mans
Before the official unveiling this Sunday at the Finali Mondiali event, here are four things you need to know about the Ferrari Hypercar that will compete in the FIA WEC in 2023, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans Centenary.
On 24 February 2021, Ferrari announced that it would be entering the Hypercar class in the FIA WEC and its flagship race, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in 2023 following a period of analysis, including design and simulation phases. At 09:37 on 6 July 2022, Alessandro Pier Guidi brought the car out onto the Fiorano circuit for its first shakedown test. “After so many months in the simulator, I finally had the chance to drive the real car, and that was a big thrill,” he said. “Driving the Ferrari that will return to the top endurance class fifty years since the last official participation was very emotional for me.” Since then, the car has since undergone several more test sessions at Portimão and Monza. Two cars will be entered in the competition and, in compliance with LMH specifications, will have a hybrid system and four-wheel drive.
The team will race under the “Ferrari – AF Corse” banner. This partnership between the Italian manufacturer and Amato Ferrari’s outfit has provided the foundations for almost all their GT wins in recent years, and all their WEC successes since the championship was created in 2012. AF Corse has clinched no fewer than eight team and driver titles in the LMGTE Pro and LMGTE Am classes, and three 24 Hours of Le Mans wins.
Although Ferrari has yet to confirm its driver squad for the Hypercar programme, Pier Guidi is a strong candidate with James Calado, Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina, Davide Rigon, Andrea Bertolini, Alessio Rovera and Nicklas Nielsen all in with a shout after playing a part in the car’s development. These racers have all driven a Ferrari 488 GTE Evo in the FIA WEC LMGTE Pro and LMGTE Am classes in recent seasons.
Ferrari has not entered a works team in the top class of the World Sportscar Championship or the 24 Hours of Le Mans since 1973. That year, the marque with the famous Prancing Horse emblem engaged in a titanic battle with Matra. The three Ferrari 312PBs dominated practice and locked out the front row of the starting grid. The tussle with Matra kept the fans on tenterhooks for 23 hours. Ultimately, the #11 Matra driven by Henri Pescarolo and Gérard Larrousse came home six laps ahead of the #16 Ferrari of Arturo Merzario and Carlos Pace. Fifty years later, Ferrari will be back to take on Porsche, Toyota, Peugeot, Cadillac and Glickenhaus.
