Comments from Le Mans ahead of the 24 Hours

The week of the 24 Hours of Le Mans kicked off with Test Days on Sunday, 4 June. This helped the cars and teams familiarise themselves with the asphalt of the La Sarthe circuit. Here are some comments ahead of the endurance race, round four of the 2023 FIA World Endurance Championship, which will start in France on Saturday, 10 June, at 4 p.m. (local time).

Nicklas Nielsen, driver 499P #50: “The first day of testing was positive: we completed our programme and are quite satisfied. Clearly, there are areas for improvement. On the first track day we collected a lot of data which we will analyse to see where we can improve: the Test Day was a good start, but we have to carry on working.
What will it be like to compete in front of over 300,000 spectators? It will be a thrilling experience. Already on the test day, we saw a lot of fans on the track, many wearing Ferrari shirts and carrying Prancing Horse flags, fans who asked for an autograph or a photo together.
It will be a wonderful experience, and the race will be something new for me: My first 24 Hours of Le Mans took place at a time still affected by Covid-19. However, this year I will be able to fully savour the significance of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.”

Antonio Giovinazzi, driver 499P #51: “The test day is always a very important one in the run-up to the 24 Hours, which takes place on a circuit where it is vital to lap and gain experience, both for the car and for the drivers and engineers, especially for a very young team like ours.
The first day was very positive. We completed our programme and collected enough data to review ahead of the race. Le Mans? It is a thrilling circuit, where I had the pleasure of racing for the first time in 2018 with the Ferrari 488 GTE. Obviously, driving the 499P is different as it is a car with much more downforce and far higher speed, so you experience a different feeling and driving pleasure behind the wheel, especially on fast turns. Being at the wheel of this car at Le Mans is the best possible combination.
Looking ahead to the race, as a driver, as a team and as Ferrari, we know that we always aim to win, but we are aware that we have a young car and team and that we drivers still have minimal experience in this class. So we will do our best, hoping to have a reliable car, and we will try to put pressure on our more experienced opponents who have already enjoyed success here at Le Mans.”

Antonello Coletta, Global Head of Endurance and Corse Clienti: “We are at Le Mans for the centenary of the 24 Hours, probably one of the most important editions ever. The wait is feverish. Many manufacturers are here, including Ferrari, which is back fighting for its colours in the top endurance category, the prototypes, with the 499P.

We took to the track with this car in July last year for the first tests. From then on, the test programme was very intense up to the season’s opening race at Sebring, where we claimed an incredible pole position and a podium with the number 50 car. Then we went to Portugal, where we finished in second place, an even better result that showed us we were on the right track and that the project was healthy. After that, we prepared for the Spa race, the first testing ground to see if such a project is really consistent. At Spa, we were again very strong, taking pole position, and once more finished the race on the podium.
Here we are today, at Le Mans for the most important event of the year, where the support for Ferrari makes itself clearly felt. We have only been here a few days and have already seen how many fans support us. We will do our utmost to achieve the best possible result: let’s see how the race goes”.

Ferdinando Cannizzo, Head of Endurance Race Cars: “We are at Le Mans for official testing ahead of the 24 Hours: It was a very positive day. We performed the entire programme and the tests we had planned to prepare for the 24 Hours as well as possible. Our results are reassuring, so we are confident we can do well in the race.
Three factors are essential to do well in the 24 Hours. First, you have to stay concentrated for 24 consecutive hours: this is definitely crucial to retain the clarity needed to make the right decisions in all phases of the race. Second, you need attention to detail because the car’s reliability is crucial. Therefore, you must be sure to take care of each and every detail in the right way.
The final point concerns performance: You have to find the right compromise in the car’s set-up, which allows it to be fast both during the day when the sun is shining and at night when the temperatures drop. Indeed, our goal is to find the compromise that allows us to be fast in both situations.”

Amato Ferrari, founder AF Corse: “Our relationship with Ferrari is long-standing, beginning in 2006, and has enabled us to achieve many results at an international level. Because of these results, they chose us to race the 499P in the top endurance category. Being at Le Mans this year is a big thrill. In the run-up to the race we are ready to do our job as well as possible.
The most recent victories with the Ferrari 488 GTE in 2021? These are lovely and indelible memories, like all victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans; Let’s hope they augur well for the weekend ahead.”