An impressive endurance test for the Ferrari 499P

Ferrari knows how to be discreet about its Hypercar program, expected in competition in 2023. Its prototype is less discreet on the track. Although no official communication has been made by the Italian manufacturer, the Prancing Horse LMH was recently seen on the MotorLand Aragón circuit. According to our information, all the Competizione GT drivers were present for this test in Spain, in addition to a certain Antonio Giovinazzi. The old pilot Alfa Romeo en Formula 1 seems closer and closer to getting behind the wheel of the Hypercar for next season. 

Above all, the Italian Hypercar has not been idle in Aragón. Still according to our indiscretions, the Ferrari 499P would have in fact completed a 56-hour endurance test during which two small problems, including one concerning the exhaust, would have been identified. A performance which, if proven, would demonstrate an enormous degree of reliability while, at Daytona, the LMDh are plagued by various problems (batteries, systems, etc.) a month and a half before their entry into competition in the double round Florida Clock (January 28-29).

Update 14 / 12 / 2022: On the occasion of the announcement of the arrival of Qatar in the WEC calendar from 2024, Antonello Coletta returned to this information. If he confirmed an attempt at an endurance test in Aragón for the Ferrari 499P, the Italian manager clarified that it was only 30 hours, and not 56 as we announced. 

« La fiabilité est le plus grand problème commun à tous les constructeurs, en dehors de Toyota qui a beaucoup plus d’expérience que nous, explained Antonello Coletta, Director of Sports Activities at Ferrari in Imola during the presentation of the prototype at the end of October. We work hard to do as many miles as possible and understand the problems we have in order to resolve them as quickly as possible. Today we are where we wanted to be. This is a good thing. We still have some time to develop the car. It is not ideal for us to go for our first race in the United States (in Sebring, March 17. Editor’s note), because we have to ship everything a little in advance and therefore interrupt our tests. Sebring is also not the easiest circuit for a first race, but it remains the same for everyone. We must therefore do everything to present ourselves there with the possibility of fighting for victory. »

It looks like Ferrari is well on its way to doing just that.

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