Credit: Photo Copyright 2023 FIA WEC / FocusPackMedia – Jan Patrick Wagner
Ferrari AF Corse has returned “great satisfaction” from the success from their first World Endurance Championship Hypercar season, as best of the rest after the championship-winning Toyota team.
The Italian marque finished second in the Hypercar Manufacturers’ standings, also taking third and fourth in the Drivers’ behind the two Toyotas.
After a 50-year absence, they returned to the top level of sportscar competition at the Centenary Le Mans 24 Hours, having triumphed over Toyota for victory.
The #50 Ferrari 499P finished in third place at the 8 Hours of Bahrain season finale, after fighting with the #38 JOTA Porsche 963 for the coveted podium spot for the majority of the race, amidst dueling momentarily with the sibling #50 Ferrari.
Eventually, the #51 Ferrari took sixth after being unable to match the pace of their sibling Le Mans Hypercar in addition to endeavours regarding tyre management.
Antonello Coletta, Global Head Endurance and Corse Clienti, said: “I am very proud and happy with the results we’ve achieved, with the prestigious win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the six podiums, the two pole positions and the fastest lap again in France.
WEC 2023: Over and out 🎬🌎 7 Races💪 2 Pole positions🏅 6 Podiums🏆 1 Win#FerrariHypercar #Ferrari499P #WEC pic.twitter.com/ETCgNHn2Uo
— Ferrari Hypercar (@FerrariHypercar) November 6, 2023
“This project took its first steps a year and a half ago, and yet has given us great satisfaction that has repaid the team’s enormous efforts and sacrifices.”
Ferdinando Cannizzo, Head of Endurance Race Cars, added: “It was a genuine pleasure to conclude this season with a podium in Bahrain, and we’re proud of what we’ve done.
“Throughout the year, we’ve continued to develop our 499P and finish every race with no particular problems, finishing on the podium every time except at Fuji.
“We won the 24 Hours of Le Mans at the first attempt, in the season of our return to the top class after fifty years.
“This result shows the value of the path we have taken.
“Now, we are already looking to the future to prepare for the 2024 season as well as possible.”
Toyota took the Drivers’ and Manufacturers’ titles, Ferrari being a vice-champion in the latter, and the #50 crew who finished ahead of the #51 in the standings.
The Hypercar project is expected to continue into the 2024 WEC season, where they will be joined by the likes of Alpine, BMW and Lamborghini amongst other competitors in the premier sportscar category.
Keyword: Ferrari Hypercar project returned ‘great satisfaction’ in first WEC season