The Ferrari 499P Is a Le Mans racer 50 years in the making.
Like the entries from Toyota, Glickenhaus, and Peugeot, the 499P is built to Le Mans Hypercar rules. The BMW, Cadillac, and Porsche prototypes are designed to the IMSA-focused LMDh regulations, which, because of its spec hybrid system and chassis, are less expensive to build.
The 3.0-liter V-6 is similar in configuration to the engine that powers the company’s new 296 road car, sharing its unusual 120-degree bank angle and its “hot V” arrangement with the turbos mounted in the engine’s valley. Chosen for its compactness, lightness, and low center of gravity, the V-6 also creates a nice marketing tie between the company’s road car and racing efforts. But Cannizzo cautions that the 499P’s engine, which is a stressed part of the car’s structure, is an entirely new unit.