Almost off the Formula 1 radar last week, Ferrari revealed their much-anticipated Hypercar to compete in the World Endurance Championship, including the Le Mans 24 Hours.
Ferrari have an illustrious sportscar and GT racing history; in the sixties and seventies dovetailing their programmes under Enzo's reign, both series equally important to the Scuderia.
But as times changed, F1 went its own way at the expense of all other categories, Enzo Ferrari passed away, and the focus on sportscars/prototypes vanished while GT cars were favoured for endurance racing which meant no outright wins for the Scuderia since.
Despite their long absence from the legendary Le Mans race, where history shows that Porsche have won the most races as a manufacturer with 19 since their first in 1970. Audi are second with 13 wins and Ferrari are third with nine victories- the last time the Reds won at the Le Sarthe was back in 1965 when Jochen Rindt, Masten Gregory and (supposedly) Ed Hugus won for them.
But that could all change as the Reds are back in sportscars, namely WEC these days, with testing already happening at Ferrari's bespoke test track Fiorano with Alessandro Pier Guidi and Nicklas Nielsen on duty to break the car in preparation for the 2023 FIA World Endurance season's premier Hypercar class.
The Scuderia have a fabled history at Le Mans but have not been outright winners since 1965
Introduced in 2021 to replace the previous LMP1 class, it is the World Endurance Championship’s flagship class. It runs on the world’s most iconic circuits, and its top race is the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans.
On the occasion of the much-awaited car-breaking cover, Head of Ferrari Attività Sportive GT, Antonello Coletta said: “This is a very exciting moment, eagerly awaited both by the people who worked on this project and Ferrari fans.
"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 recognisable as a Ferrari.”
Behind-the-scenes work has been intense for Ferrari and their diver Pier Guidi, who said after his first stint in the cockpit: “After so many months in the simulator, I finally had the chance to drive the real car, and that was a big thrill.
"Driving the Ferrari that will return to the top endurance class fifty years since the last official participation was very emotional for me. We are only at the start, and much work is ahead of us, but it feels very positive. I am proud and happy to have debuted the LMH, marking the beginning of a new adventure with Ferrari."
Nielsen: Driving the Ferrari LMH Hypercar on the track is a dream come true
Nicklas Nielsen, who was also on hand to help with the shakedo0wn of the new car added: “It was a special day... To be one of the first to drive Ferrari’s Hypercar on the track is a dream come true.
"Ever since I was a little boy, I dreamt of driving a Ferrari, and doing so in the car that will be competing in the top class is incredible. Of course, it’s still a long way to the car’s race debut, but today we took a small step toward that moment."
During a comprehensive first test at Fiorano, the team reported that Ferrari’s engineers concentrated on checking the various propulsion and electronic systems ahead of the development test sessions, alternating between sessions on the track and long breaks necessary for routine checks.
The team declared: "Once again, the Fiorano track, which celebrates its fiftieth anniversary this year, witnessed a historic moment, the celebration of the return of an entirely Ferrari-produced Sports Prototype to the World Endurance Championship.
After the shakedown at Fiorano on Wednesday, the Ferrari LMH began its development programme with two days of testing, again at the Prancing Horse-owned track.
An unforgettable day in which another important step in Ferrari history was made
After debuting the Le Mans Hypercar, Pier Guidi and Nielsen took turns at the wheel again on Thursday, with the Dane driving in the morning and the two-time WEC world champion in the afternoon.
On Friday, Andrea Bertolini and Davide Rigon clocked their first miles in the new LMH, completing the work programme drawn up by Ferrari engineers.
“It was a real honour to be one of the first drivers to drive this wonderful car”, said Davide Rigon. “It’s a real Ferrari, in every sense. Right from its first acceleration, it gives you great confidence, has good braking, great handling and feels brilliant behind the wheel”.
“It was an unforgettable day, with lots of excitement”, added Andrea Bertolini. “The biggest one was when I stepped into the car. It beat those I felt in the other testing session I have had the pleasure of participating in."
Ferrari have a rich pool of endurance and GT drivers under contract and racing rergularly which also includes James Calado and Antonio Fuoco. And of course, if Le Mans does not clas with F1 they also have Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz to tap into, as they used to do with their F1 drivers when Enzo was alive.
The Old Man will be smiling under his dark glasses because sportscars were always his first love.
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