Ferrari 499P: the team’s preparation before a race

Before an FIA WEC event, the Ferrari – AF Corse team makes several crucial preparations for the race. Indeed, this process begins well before the engines fire up on the circuit, starting with the engineers’ meetings in Maranello.

In this process, engineers combine their expertise with data from previous tests on the same track and simulator sessions, finally refining their approach based on driver feedback. Giuliano Salvi, Ferrari Endurance Race Cars Race & Test Operation Manager, explains: “The preparation for a WEC race like the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps involves three main meetings: following the ‘Build’ and ‘Pre-Event’ meetings, which occur in the weeks leading up to the race, we convene at the track for a final meeting on the eve of free practice.”

Twenty days. Preparation for a race begins with the initial phase known as “Build”, which starts approximately 20 days before the race. Engineers working on the Ferrari 499P attend this technical meeting to decide the car’s “build” for the race.

Salvi explains: “A small group of people decides many aspects, from the 499P’s aerodynamic configuration and the braking system to the specification of the software and wiring.” In racing jargon, building the car means creating the best possible hypercar for that race at that moment.”

Indeed, each track’s unique characteristics are considered in the specific preparation of the Ferrari Hypercar. Salvi continues: “You have to consider that the 499P, first revealed to the world at the Shakedown on 6 July 2022, has undergone meticulous optimisation. Although no waivers were used in 2023 and 2024, every race and every test session is valuable for identifying areas for improvement. If a problem or an area for improvement is identified, we begin to develop and design a solution, which must then be validated. When we introduce it to the car, we ensure it can withstand a certain number of hours or kilometres.”

Eight days. The group’s philosophy is to work in synergy and effectively use shared ideas. In its extended form, the group convenes for the Pre-Event meeting at Maranello, attended by a 40 about engineers working on the official Ferrari cars number 50 and 51. Many aspects need consideration when preparing for an event, including the aerodynamic setup, activating 4WD in specific sectors, selecting tyres, managing energy consumption per stint, and configuring the car’s electronics and setup. “The aim is to share information and spread knowledge about the car, regardless of your area of work,” explains Salvi.

After analysing the track’s specific characteristics, from its layout to the benchmark times in each sector, the engineers share essential information to help define strategies. Any examples? Understanding the type of asphalt on a track allows you to estimate the expected level of grip and, consequently, tyre wear. Similarly, knowing the height of the kerbs influences the ideal racing lines that drivers will follow.

The power unit. In preparing for an endurance race, the key aspect is ensuring the reliability of the motors. “It is a task that begins at the end of the previous race when we analyse the components of the motors, both thermal and hybrid, to determine which can still be used,” explains Lucio Calogero, Ferrari Endurance Race Cars Power Unit Design & Development Manager. “Spa is renowned in motorsport for placing immense stress on the entire power unit. Take the long stretch between La Source and Les Combes, which demands maximum continuous power. To this, we need to add the vertical change of direction near Eau Rouge, a feature unique to the FIA WEC calendar. This point severely tests the entire lubrication system of the combustion engine.”

Spa’s unique challenges necessitate specific evaluations by the Prancing Horse engineers in the lead-up to the race to ensure optimal performance. “At Spa, there are also some high-speed corners,” continues Calogero. “Take Blanchimont, for example, where the 499P must deliver maximum power to the electric motor, activating traction on the front axle once it exceeds 190 km/h. Essentially, the 6 Hours of Spa serves as a remarkable test bench, and our task is to optimise the power unit’s performance for such a wonderful yet difficult event.”

The simulator. “The simulator activity is crucial for race preparation,” explains Mauro Barbieri, Ferrari Endurance Race Cars Performance & Regulations Manager. “We aim to optimise the set-up for the specific track, focusing on achieving optimal aerodynamic levels.”

On many tracks, the trade-off between downforce and drag, owing to the track’s nature, is indisputable. “Take Le Mans, where minimising drag is crucial because the downforce offers a negligible advantage in lap time,” continues Barbieri. “Conversely, a circuit like Sakhir in Bahrain represents the opposite extreme, where downforce is crucial for performance, and drag is almost negligible.”

On the eve of the 6 Hours of Spa, the Ferrari engineers had to prepare to race on a track that, in many ways, embodies a mix of elements from both Le Mans and Bahrain: “The Belgian circuit is considered ‘high-efficiency’, meaning that even the slightest change in downforce has significant consequences for resistance. Therefore, Spa is a track where the race preparation involves many factors, and the balances are extremely fine.”

On the track. The intense preparation work in the weeks between races is again shared with the entire team, including the drivers, in the two days leading up to the first free practice session. This allows for the confirmation or necessary updates to the work plan for defining race strategies.

Salvi concludes: “Transferring data to the drivers, who will compete in the race, allows us to study every aspect meticulously. This ranges from determining the best racing line and optimal cornering speeds to fine-tuning the car’s setup to achieve the best possible result.”