The triumph of Ferrari at the centenary 24 Hours of Le Mans created huge demand among clients for a chance to drive the 499P hypercar. Maranello answered with the 499P Modificata and created an ad hoc Sport Prototipi Clienti programme
“I was the one who dreamed of being Ferrari.” (Enzo Ferrari)
This quote, by the Prancing Horse’s founder, is certainly one of his most celebrated. And from 1947 to today his company has always remained faithful to that dream. A vision that has led the Prancing Horse to become one of the best-known brands in the world, instilling a passion that has no equal. Every model that rolls out of the Maranello factory carries the essence of Enzo’s dream, and experiencing it, whether by admiring it or actually driving it, evokes indescribable emotions.
See the Ferrari 499P Modificata in action on track…
Imagine yourself stepping into the cockpit of a car derived from the very machine that this year won Le Mans, further bolstering last year’s legendary victory at the centenary of the world’s most prestigious endurance race. Imagine doing it not as an official Ferrari driver, but as the proud owner of one of the few, rare models ever produced. Picture the thrill of being able to drive it on some of the world’s most spectacular tracks as a participant of a specially tailored, purposely developed programme.
In other words, imagine being one of the owners of a Ferrari 499P Modificata taking part in one of the Sport Prototipi Clienti events. Such an ambitious and visionary programme for non-competitive racing activities involving sport prototypes has never been undertaken by any company in history. In general terms, you would wait until the end of a racing model’s life cycle before initiating a client-targeted project based on it. Yet Ferrari is renowned for always pushing the boundaries of what is achievable. In this particular instance, the Corse Clienti department has demonstrated its ability to innovate with initiatives such as F1 Clienti and the XX Programme that – time and again – create imitators. And it is precisely these two initiatives that inspired Sport Prototipi Clienti, unveiled during the Finali Mondiali at Mugello in 2023.
Above: Taylor and Demore prepare for a first drive on Ferrari’s exclusive Fiorano circuit
“As you might expect, winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans generated incredible enthusiasm among our clients and an unprecedented number of requests to drive the 499P,” says Antonello Coletta, Global Head of Ferrari Endurance and Corse Clienti. “We wondered what we could do to respond to this great interest. A few months later we unveiled the 499P Modificata and on the first weekend of March this year we attended the first Sport Prototipi Clienti event, having already delivered the first models of the car.”
The epitome of the highest technology and expertise of an entire company, offered exclusively to a select group of Ferrari clients. Once again, it was the team under Federica Santoro, responsible for the XX and Monoposto Heritage Programmes, that spearheaded this endeavour. “The nature of the event, the specific clientele, and the essence of the initiative allowed us to fully leverage the synergies, locations, and, above all, the expertise gained from the F1 Clienti and XX Programme. Our organisation attends to every aspect, both on and off the track, ensuring that our clients can enjoy the sheer pleasure of driving extraordinary cars with complete peace of mind and in total safety.”
From left: the technicians and engineers of Corse Clienti introduce John F. Taylor to his new 499P Modificata and follow him step-by-step as he gets acquainted with the new Maranello powerhouse
The 499P Modificata models enable their owners to fulfill a dream: driving a slightly modified version of the car that propelled Ferrari back to the top position on the world’s most illustrious endurance race podium, 58 years after its previous victory, before repeating the feat this year.
To enable this dream, the entire Sport Prototipi Clienti organisation works tirelessly. Technicians, engineers, telemetry experts and tyre specialists prepare the car under the watchful eye of Filippo Petrucci, Head of the XX and Monoposto Heritage Programmes and Corso Pilota Workshop. They can also rely on the guidance of Olivier Beretta, the Ferrari ‘ambassador driver’ who played an essential role in the development of the 499P Modificata.
Above: Argentine driver Luis Perez Companc begins a track run in his red 499P Modificata
The experience offered by Sport Prototipi Clienti programmes isn’t limited to the track. Participants benefit from exclusive access to a gym where sports medicine and preparation professionals recommend optimal exercises for muscle awakening or recovery, while mental coaches and masseurs are always available. Sport Prototipi drivers can always enjoy meals prepared by the best caterers, offering the true flavours of Italian cuisine. Exclusive events are also arranged in select locations to ensure truly unforgettable experiences for the drivers.
The dream continues.
Cover image: a happy handover at Fiorano as John F. Taylor (left) and Tim Demore take possession of their eagerly-awaited 499P Modificata models, assisted in the unveiling respectively by Enrico Galliera and Antonello Coletta