Ferrari returns to endurance racing next year with the 499P. The Le Mans Hypercar burst onto the scene over the weekend, showcasing the sleek racing car to the world. It won’t make its official racing debut until next year, but the car hit the track when it launched, which you can watch above.
The 499P made its debut at this year’s Ferrari Finali Mondiali at the Imola Circuit, an end-of-year event for the company’s motorsport enthusiasts. The car rolls along the track with enthusiasm, even if the driver does not push it to its limits. The Ferrari is powered by a rear mid-mounted combustion engine and a front-mounted electric motor. Racing regulations limit engine output to 680 horsepower, while the electric motor produces 272 hp (200 kW). However, the total combined power is limited to 680 hp.
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The electrified motor connects to a seven-speed sequential transmission. The electric motor is powered by a 900-volt F1-derived battery. Ferrari recharges it during deceleration and braking. The video above not only captures the output of the 499P on the track, but it also captures the exhaust note. At the heart of the car is a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine, and it sounds powerful and promising.
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A Ferrari 296 GT3 racing car joins the 499P on its laps around Imola. The two are linked by the 129-degree architecture of their V6 engine, but they are not identical, according to Ferrari. The automaker chose the V6 because it was light and compact.
The video also shows the car’s new red livery in motion. Ferrari has added yellow accents as a nod to the 1972 and 1973 312PB race car. The Ferrari 499P will make its racing debut next March at the 1000 miles of Sebring, the inaugural race of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). When Ferrari hits the track, its two campaign cars will be numbered 50 and 51. The automaker has yet to announce any drivers.
The race car has already undergone more than 7,500 miles (12,000 kilometers) of testing. We expect Ferrari to rack up a few more miles before making its racing debut, as the company is expected to complete homologation before the end of the year. March is fast approaching.
