WEC: Ferrari Hypercar spied testing (Update)

A camouflaged version of Ferrari’s Le Mans Hypercar race car being developed for the 2023 season of the World Endurance Championship was shown last week and has since been spending each day running laps at the Fiorano test track in Maranello, Italy.

A video released by Ferrari on Tuesday shows some of the testing. The first few tests concentrated on checking the powertrain and associated electronics, rumored to be a V-6 and hybrid setup similar to what’s found in the 296 GTB.

Alessandro Pier Guidi, a double world champion in the GT classes of the World Endurance Championship, was joined by Andrea Bertolini, Nicklas Nielsen and Davide Rigon for the tests.

“It was a real honor to be one of the first drivers to drive this wonderful car,” Rigon said in a statement. “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.”

As a LMH racer, the car is eligible for both the existing Hypercar class of the World Endurance Championship and the new GTP (Grand Touring Prototype) class launching next year as the new top class of the IMSA SportsCar Championship. Ferrari thus far has only announced a commitment to the World Endurance Championship, whose highlight is the 24 Hours of Le Mans, though its LMH could still appear at select SportsCar Championship rounds, such as the 24 Hours of Daytona.

Ferrari’s Hypercar spied testing at Fiorano.

Looks like a cool car. Ferrari covers the race car in a full-body camouflage wrap, which hides the car’s styling details.

Ferrari sports car boss Antonello Colletta said at what was described as the car’s ‘reveal’: “This is a very exciting moment that has been eagerly awaited by both the people who worked on this project and Ferrari fans.

“The opportunity to touch the results of many months of work, planning and modeling gives us new energy and motivation.

“We’re proud of what we’ve achieved, and while the LMH’s livery hides the car’s volume and styling during testing, I think it’s unmistakably recognizable as a Ferrari.”