Antonello Coletta: “On the cusp of something big for Ferrari”

Like every day, in front of the gates at the end of Via Gilles Villeneuve, a handful of faithful from Ferrari. However, there are no celebrations in the sanctuary of Fiorano in these last days of February. It's the calm before the storm. The SF-23 awaits the start of the season F1 in Bahrain, and the 499P Hypercar has just returned from a final test run at Monza before the first round of the WEC, March 17 in Sebring, Florida. A date that Antonello Coletta has circled in red in his diary.

Mr. Coletta, 50 years ago, on the evening of July 21, 1973, the Scuderia turned off the light on the premier category of theEndurance. What is the general state of mind two weeks before turning it back on?

Impatience wins! It’s a moment we’ve been waiting for for a long time, and the closer we get to D-Day, the more unbearable the wait becomes. And it is not only for Ferrari that the moment is historic, but also for the World Endurance Championship. Members of the Scuderia, drivers, partners, we all have our eyes glued to the calendar. Now, if Sebring focuses attention because it is the comeback race, it is also the first of a program that is intended to be long-term. Ferrari is committed to the times with its WEC program, whether in the context of the world championship or the 24 Hours of Le Mans. 2023 will be the year of “firsts” for us at all levels. We are the last to arrive on the starting line and we inevitably have a “testing” deficit. There will be reliability and con issues.