The new Hypercar class in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) officially kicked off in 2021, but 2023 is when Ferrari will take its first crack at the class after months of R&D. It is also the first time Ferrari has competed on a factory level in the endurance class in half a century. To make it official, Ferrari recently revealed its LMH (Le Mans Hypercar) racer to the world by releasing a first-look image. Though, the photo is dimly lit so it is difficult to pick out any fine details. We’re fairly confident that’s by design. When you’re a manufacturer that’s been racing for nearly 100 years, you learn when to keep important details close to the vest.
The LMH car is currently sporting an obligatory black and white camo livery which no doubt serves to obscure any tricks Ferrari’s aerodynamicists may have employed to gain a competitive edge. Despite the livery, the team is quite confident that the car’s identity will be unmistakable during its testing program.
“This is a very exciting moment, eagerly awaited both by the people who worked on this project and Ferrari fans,” said Antonello Coletta, Head of Ferrari Attività Sportive GT. “Being able to touch the result of many months of work, planning, and simulations gives us new energy and motivation. We are proud of what we have achieved, and although the LMH’s masking during testing hides the car’s volumes and styling, I think it is undeniably recognizable as a Ferrari.”
Fiorano
Shortly after the reveal, Ferrari brought its new race car to the famed Fiorano circuit to turn it its first shakedown laps with two-time WEC champ Alessandro Pier Guidi behind the wheel and Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna looking on.
“After so many months in the simulator, I finally had the chance to drive the real car, and that was a big thrill”, said Pier Guidi. “We are only at the start, and much work is ahead of us, but it feels very positive.”
Ferrari is going to need much more than positive vibes when it brings its car to the grid next year. Toyota, Alpine, Peugeot, and Glickenhaus racing will have two years of previous class experience over Ferrari with Toyota and Alpine earning championships in 2021 and 2022 respectively. Not to mention that Cadillac will be joining the grid as well.
Will Ferrari dominate the class? Or will they be humbled by the competition? We’ll have to wait until next year to find out.
Keyword: Ferrari Unveils Its All-New LMH Racer For the 2023 Season