FERRARI 499P WINS ON DEBUT AT LE MANS
FERRARI 499P WINS ON DEBUT AT LE MANS
The 2023 season featured exciting times on the track, culminating in the triumph at the Centenary 24 Hours of Le Mans with the 499P, having been unveiled at the 2022 Finali Mondiali.
<p>This historic result came after a fifty-year absence from the top class of endurance racing, as the Ferrari – AF Corse team left an indelible mark on the world’s most prestigious endurance race, the fourth round of the FIA World Endurance Championship 2023.</p> <p>For the Maranello-based company, it was the tenth outright victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, taking the total tally of wins to 39, including the 29 class victories that Ferrari has achieved in its history at Le Mans.</p> <p>The victory in the world’s most famous endurance race prompted a special celebration on the streets of Maranello, where mechanics, technicians, and engineers came together for a parade alongside the triumphant drivers of the number-51 499P: Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, and Antonio Giovinazzi. They were joined by their teammates from car number 50: Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina, and Nicklas Nielsen.</p>
<p>However, 2023 was not defined solely by Le Mans; other significant achievements that had a big impact on the season included the 296 GT3’s remarkable performance at the Nürburgring and the successes garnered in the main championships for production-based cars. Antonello Coletta, Global Head of Endurance and Corse Clienti, reflected on the emotions and significant milestones of this memorable season, discussing the key moments of the year and his delight about the goals achieved.</p> <p>“I want to mention two moments, the races at Sebring and Le Mans, for different reasons. In America, on our debut in the FIA WEC, we came up against our rivals for the first time: tension ran high until the Thursday before the race, but from free practice onwards, I realised the car was very quick and started to feel optimistic. And a podium on the debut was fantastic. However, at Le Mans, the lead-up to the race was different, with a different mix of feelings. The pressure in the run-up was greater. We knew we were competitive and confirmed our credentials in qualifying, finishing with a first and a second place. However, we were still tense during the race until dawn on Sunday, when we gradually realised our potential and our optimism grew. The joy felt at the finish line is beyond description. </p> <p>The triumph at Le Mans is eternally etched in the hearts of Ferrari fans. This is how Coletta described the achievement:</p> <p>“What we did at the 24 Hours of Le Mans is undoubtedly unique, a page inscribed in motorsport history. Returning to compete in the top class after half a century and taking the Prancing Horse back to victory, 58 years after the success in 1965 with the 250 LM driven by Jochen Rindt and Masten Gregory, was an extraordinary achievement. During the race, we never made a mistake with a pit stop, a strategy or a driver’s choice. Everyone showed great clarity. To win a 24 Hours of Le Mans, you need an excellent car but also great organisation of the entire team. I think it was the highlight of my professional career to date and that of the co-workers I had alongside me.” </p>
<p>It was a year of extraordinary success, in which Ferrari attained truly remarkable results, including in financial terms. Indeed, 2023 saw new commercial and financial milestones being reached, strengthening the foundations for continued growth.</p> <p>The Chief Executive Officer, Benedetto Vigna, had this to say about the annual results:</p> <p>“[W]e strengthened our brand through a number of achievements reflected in our unprecedented financial results. For the first time, our net profit, up 34%, exceeded 1 billion Euro and the annual EBITDA margin rose to 38.2%. We now have a very important year ahead of us in the execution of our business plan, which continues on schedule along its carefully planned path. The record 2023 results, the ambitions that we have on 2024, together with the exceptional visibility on our order book allow us to look at the high-end of 2026 targets with stronger confidence.”</p> <p>In 2023, a total of 13,663 vehicles were delivered. Throughout the year, the rise in deliveries was propelled by the Purosangue, as well as increased deliveries from the 296 and SF90 ranges, while initial deliveries of the Roma Spider commenced in the fourth quarter. The year also saw the completion of deliveries of the F8 series, and the Portofino M neared the end of its life cycle. Deliveries of the Special Series also increased, largely due to the 812 Competizione line, while allocations of the Daytona SP3 has been progressing as scheduled.</p>
In 2023, the Ferrari Purosangue received special recognition, winning the Production Cars category at the prestigious Car Design Award. The Purosangue allowed Ferrari to carve out a new niche, entering uncharted territories for the Maranello-based company. Thanks to its modern architecture, this versatile car melds unparalleled comfort with Ferrari’s signature performance and driving pleasure. Fast and agile, it is the first Ferrari four-seater, offering the space on board to ensure exceptional comfort for all occupants.
