Ferrari 499P #51
Pilots: J. Calado, A. Giovinazzi, A. Pier Guidi
Team: Ferrari AF Corse
Race: 1st overall (Hypercar class) at Le Mans in 2023
LookSmart - LM162 (resin)
Published 03/28/25
You can say that the first half of the 60s was the “Ferrari Era” of the 24 Heures du Mans. With the same happening in F1, Maranello’s cars totally dominated. Then came Ford (Le Mans) and the garagisti (F1), and Ferrari lost the limelight. At La Sarthe, the last Ferrari in the top class to make a podium was the 312 PB in 1973. Though finishing in second place, it would take 50 years until another Ferrari works car raced at Le Mans. Of course, there were DOZENS of Ferraris competing through the years, yet all as privateers. Moreover, in the last 20 years or so many of these teams received factory support. Nonetheless, the last Ferrari factory team car was the 312 PB. On the other hand, Maranello dominated (again) F1 from 1999 to 2008. Therefore, in 2022 the time came for Maranello to get back to La Sarthe.
The 2023 race would be the Centennial Le Mans. Moreover, it would be 50 years since a Ferrari factory team last raced at La Sarthe. And of course, since 2021 the hypercar (LMH class) rules were in effect. With those three facts (AND a decades-long terrible F1 campaign), conditions couldn’t be better for a come-back to Le Mans. Work on the project began in 2021, with a working prototype ready in November 2022, called 499P. The name comes from the old tradition of using the displacement of one cylinder. The new car would have a 2992 cm³ V6 engine – therefore, each cylinder displaced ~499 cm³. Since it was a LMH car, it would also have a 200 kW (268 hp) electric motor in the front. Combined with the twin-turbo V6 ICE, the car developed 500 kW (670 hp). Moreover, all four wheels can receive power through an Xtrac seven-speed transmission.
Differently from all the other 2023 hypercars, the ICE and transmission are stressed units of the car’s structure. They are not “bolted on” to the carbon fiber monocoque chassis, allowing more structural rigidity. The electric motor receives power from a 900v battery, recharged by Ferrari’s own Energy Recovery System (ERS). All that was then covered with an aerodynamic carbon fiber body. With the car ready, it was time to take it to the track. According to Ferrari, the chosen livery was inspired by the 312 PB, as were the numbers #50 and #51. Yet, the 1973 Le Mans second-place 312 PB was red and green, and carried #16…🤔 And Ferrari’s main goal was Le Mans, not the WEC 🤨. So yes, a bit confusing. Nonetheless, Ferrari debuted 499P #50 and #51 at the 1000 Miles of Sebring, in March of 2023. A nice debut it was: third place!
After Sebring came Portimão (third and fourth places) and then Spa (second and third). At last, it was time for the big one: the 100th 24 Heures du Mans. On June 10th, 15 (!) hypercars lined up to race (62 cars in total). To the delight of the world, it was a hot race from the start. To put things into perspective, the leader changed 35 (!) times throughout the race. Almost every hypercar lead the race at some point. From the GR010, to the V-Series.R, to the 9X8, to the 963, and of course, to the 499P. In the end however, 499P #51 here came in first place. Ferrari won the Centennial Le Mans, earning its 10th victory at Le Mans. With that 10th victory, they’re only behind Porsche (19 wins) and Audi (13 wins). Nonetheless, Ferrari is back to Le Mans 😎.
So here it is: the 2023 winning 499P #51 in 143rd. And from Looksmart! Yes, I remember dissing Looksmart in the beginning of 2023… Remember, my class-winning 488 GTE? My exact words were “you get a Spark-good model for 50% more”. And here I am putting the “Grail Model” stamp on a Looksmart. A case of double standards? No, definitively not. Like the 488 GTE, I also think that the 499P is overly expensive. Awesome model, absolutely no doubt, however, in essence it’s only slightly better than Spark-good. I don’t think I received the extra 50% that I paid in better detail level*. Yet, this is the car that won the Centennial Le Mans. The first factory Ferrari to race in La Sarthe after 1973. Add that up (and of course, a BEAUTIFUL model 😍) and you spell grail model. A case of must buy, fortunately or unfortunately.
*: And one more detail. For me it’s not a bother, since I display my models in a closed cabinet without the original acrylic box. However, Looksmart’s plinth and case are kind of shitty (it looks CHEAP) compared to what Spark uses.