Ferrari, which reigned supreme in the top category of the last year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, intends to take its game further with a new endurance racecar set to debut in Qatar on March 2, 2024.
The livery is predominantly red and yellow, which could be a reference to the 1973 Ferrari 312 PB that the company put out shortly before retiring from professional motorsports for half a century. It could also be construed as a nod to the Formula 1 racer, the F2007.
The new prototype is called Ferrari 499P and runs the same six-cylinder engine as the 296 GT3 racer. It sits right behind the cockpit and receives assistance from an electric motor driving the front wheels. The combined output comes to 680 PS (671 hp / 500 kW).
Like in 2023, Ferrari will be putting two vehicles on track this year – with starting numbers 50 and 51. This year’s endurance racing season will officially kick off with a special introductory event in Qatar this weekend, since this is the first time on record that the country holds a championship of this scale. A 10-hour-long race will take place on Saturday, March 2.
This year’s season will take Ferrari to races in Italy, Belgium, France, Brazil, the USA Japan, and finally Bahrain. Aside from the usual contenders, there will be new names in the Hypercar category this year: Alpine, Isotta Fraschini and Lamborghini are joining in on the fun.