Ferrari has announced a new version of its Le Mans-winning hypercar. It’s called the 499P Modificata, and in a rather incredible turn of events it’s not actually being built for racing drivers.
Let me clarify this for you. You’re familiar with Ferrari’s exclusive XX and F1 Clienti programs, where extremely affluent individuals purchase high-performance cars like the FXXK or vintage Scuderia F1 vehicles, which are then transported to various racetracks around the world for the owners to enjoy, right? Well, the 499P Modificata is the beginning of a new branch of these programs, to be known as “Sport Prototipi Clienti.” The exciting part is that regular enthusiasts will now have the opportunity to acquire these remarkable machines, which is quite extraordinary.
When the Sport Prototipi Clienti program kicks off in 2024, we’re told that the Le Mans Hypercars will share racetracks with old F1 cars at iconic circuits like Suzuka and the Nürburgring, promising an exceptional spectacle for all to witness.
Furthermore, since these cars are non-competitive track toys meant for the extremely wealthy, Ferrari is not bound by the pesky Balance of Performance regulations. As a result, they’ve enhanced the performance of the 2022 Le Mans 24hrs winner, making it even faster just in time for members of the general public to experience its exhilarating capabilities.
Still, all of the other internals are pretty much exactly as they were in the Le Mans winner, so you get a full carbon monocoque chassis, a seven-speed sequential gearbox, push-rod suspension (which has been tweaked to make the car a little more friendly), a proper brake-by-wire system and an F1-derived 800-volt battery pack. You also get exactly the same styling/aero as the ‘standard’ 499P, and we’re told the interior only gets the addition of a digital rear-view mirror and a slightly wider seat. Well, we can’t all be as lean as racing drivers. Ferrari has announced
One big difference from the actual race car though is the bespoke rubber. While Michelins were used at Circuit de la Sarthe, these Pirelli slicks have been designed to warm up quicker before offering more “predictable handling”. Sounds sensible.