The Ferrari 499P (project code F255)[4] is a sports prototype built by Scuderia Ferrari to compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship in the Le Mans Hypercar category since 2023.[6] The introduction of the 499P marks 50 years since Ferrari last fielded a factory-backed sports prototype that contested for the overall win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and one of the 499Ps raced with the number 50 as a tribute.[7]
The car was unveiled in October 2022 at the Ferrari Finali Mondiali, Ferrari's annual finale for their one-make series, Ferrari Challenge.[8] The car made its competitive debut at the season-opening round of the 2023 FIA World Endurance Championship, the 2023 1000 Miles of Sebring.[9] On its first outing at the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 499P driven by
At the 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans, Ferrari achieved its eleventh victory, second consecutive at Le Mans, with the No. 50 499P driven by Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina and Nicklas Nielsen, while the No. 51 499P driven by Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, and Antonio Giovinazzi, winner of the previous edition, came in third place.[11] The 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans saw the number 83 car, operated by AF Corse and driven by Robert Kubica, Yifei Ye, and Phil Hanson, take the Ferrari brand to a third consecutive Le Mans victory, with the number 51 car finishing in third and the number 50 car finishing fourth.
Specifications
The 499P was designed under the Le Mans Hypercar regulations, therefore it does not feature the standardised parts such as the ones found in cars designed to the Le Mans Daytona h regulations, which the 499P races against.[12] However, the chassis is still manufactured by Dallara.[13] The aerodynamics of the 499P were developed in conjunction with Ferrari's Styling Centre, headed by Flavio Manzoni, under Ferdinando Cannizzo, head of Ferrari's sports car engineering department.
The car's 2992 cc twin-turbochargedV6 engine architecture is shared with the Ferrari 296 and its Group GT3 counterpart, the 296 GT3.[14] However, instead of being mounted to the subframe as in the road-going vehicle, the engine is a fully stressed member in the 499P, and has had various modifications to accommodate its new role as a stress-bearing member.[15] The 499P has semi-permanent all-wheel drive, with an electric motor situated at the front axle, providing 200 kW above 190 km/h (as stipulated by the regulations), and is connected to a bespoke 900 V battery pack, with the ability to be recharged by Ferrari's own Energy Recovery System (ERS).[15][16][17]
499P Modificata
The 499P Modificata was unveiled during the 2023 Ferrari Finali Mondiali. It is a non-competitive, unrestricted, track-only version of the 499P, made to celebrate Ferrari's victory at Le Mans that year.[18][19]On 18 March 2024, the first event of the Sport Prototipi Clienti program took place at the Mugello Circuit in which the 499P Modificata took part.[20][21]
Competition history
2023
The driver lineups for both cars consisted of drivers from AF Corse's programmes, the Ferrari Driver Academy junior team, and a reserve from Scuderia Ferrari.Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina, and Nicklas Nielsen formed the #50 crew, and James Calado, Antonio Giovinazzi, and Alessandro Pier Guidi completed the #51 crew.[22]
The 499P was immediately competitive in its first race, with Antonio Fuoco behind the wheel of the #50 car scoring pole position ahead of both GR010 Hybrid entries from defending champions Toyota.[23] Mistakes in the race caused the #50 to fall from the lead however it would manage to take home a podium in 3rd two laps down on the leading Toyotas, whereas the #51 finished 11 laps down.[24] Its first major race victory came at the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans, winning with Calado, Giovinazzi, and Pier Guidi, marking Ferrari's first win at Le Mans since 1965.[25] The 499P would podium in every race except at Fuji, resulting in Ferrari finishing second in the Manufacturers' Championship.
2024
Ferrari maintained their lineup for both cars in 2024.[26] AF Corse also entered a non-factory car that year, bringing in Robert Kubica, Robert Shwartzman, and Yifei Ye to drive the #83 car.[27]
The 499P took home two wins that year, going back to back at the 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans with Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina, and Nicklas Nielsen in the #50 car, and at the 2024 Lone Star Le Mans with the non-factory #83 car.[28] In both races, the winning 499P narrowly scored its wins holding off Toyota's chasing #7 car.[28][29] Despite taking home more wins, the car scored less podiums overall, as Porsche
2025
In the opening race of the 2025 season, the 2025 Qatar Airways Qatar 1812km, Ferrari achieved a historic triple podium,[30] following pole position for Antonio Giovinazzi in the #51 car,[31] with Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina and Nicklas Nielsen winning the race in the #50 Ferrari, followed by the #83 Ferrari 499P in second and the #51 Ferrari 499P in third.
In the second race of the season, the 2025 6 Hours of Imola, the #51 Ferrari 499P took pole position with Antonio Giovinazzi,[32] and the victory was again achieved by the #51 Ferrari 499P driven by Antonio Giovinazzi, James Calado and Alessandro Pier Guidi,[33][34]
2026
The prologue and the first race of the 2026 season were scheduled for March 2026, but due to the 2026 Iran war, the Qatar 1812 km at Losail International Circuit, Lusail was postponed to October 2026.So the prologue and the first race of the season will take place in Imola.The prologue and the first race, the 6 Hours of Imola, will take place from April 14 to 19, 2026.[38][39]The Ferrari 499P with Antonio Giovinazzi immediately proved to be competitive and secured the hyperpole at the 2026 6 Hours of Imola.However, after a positive start during the race, Ferrari's strategy does not prove successful, and the #51 Ferrari finished the race in 2nd place behind the Toyota.[40]Tifosi and spectators over 90,000 were partly disappointed as the weekend had started with a lot of enthusiasm and expectation for a Ferrari's victory.[41]
Racing results
Complete World Endurance Championship results
(key) Races in bold indicates pole position. Races in italics indicates fastest lap. ↓ Penalized from 2nd to 14th position.
** Points and position shown are for the FIA World Cup for Hypercar Teams.
42.Season 2023 Results FIA World Endurance Championship, retrieved 17 June 2024^
grew more competitive and became a title contender with their
963
, fighting Ferrari and Toyota at the front for both championships.
Ferrari finished the season third in the Manufacturers' Championship, behind Porsche and Toyota.
while the fastest lap was achieved by
Antonio Fuoco
with the #50 Ferrari 499P.
Unfortunately, the race of the #50 Ferrari 499P was affected by the cancellation of Antonio Fuoco's qualifying time due to track limits and by a contact during the race in an overtaking attempt with the #8 Toyota GR010 Hybrid driven by Sébastien Buemi which resulted in the car going off the track and suffering a puncture in the rear tyre of the #50 Ferrari 499P driven by Antonio Fuoco.
After returning to the pits and changing the punctured tyre, the #50 Ferrari finished the race in 15th place.
On 9 May 2025, at the 2025 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, the #50 Ferrari 499P driven by Antonio Fuoco achieved the Hyperpole, while the following day of the race, the #51 Ferrari 499P driven by James Calado, Antonio Giovinazzi and Alessandro Pier Guidi achieved the victory while the #50 Ferrari 499P achieved the second place.
A very important victory that guarantees Ferrari, the record of overall victories at the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps in the endurance championship, with 11 victories surpassing Porsche.
Furthermore, the #51 Ferrari 499P also achieved the fastest lap.
Ferrari completed a hat trick of 24 Hours of Le Mans victories with the 499P at the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans when the #83 customer AF Corse car took victory with Robert Kubica, Yifei Ye, and Phil Hanson at the wheel.Kubica and Ye became the first Le Mans winners from their respective countries, Poland and China.[35] The factory Ferraris finished 3rd and 4th, however the 4th-place finishing #50 was later disqualified due to a technical infringement.[36] Despite mixed results post-Le Mans, Ferrari completed a dominant championship season with the 499P, ending the year occupying the top 3 spots in the standings.[37]
