The Ferrari Hypercar at the 24 Hours of Le Mans will be inspired by Formula 1
After announcing his return to the top category at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Antonello Coletta, who leads the LMH project as the head of Ferrari's GT Sport Activities department, explains his project to us.
20 years after Ferrari’s last appearance in the top category of endurance racing in Le Mans, the Italian brand is returning to the Hypercar class in 2023 with the aim of competing against the world’s biggest manufacturers. With this in mind, Antonello Coletta, director of the LMH project, reveals some information about the future red Hypercar: “I think the technology we have at Ferrari is one of our greatest assets, and it’s normal that we share this technology across all our projects. It’s normal for the LMH project to have Formula 1 experience, but not only that, it also comes from road cars. It’s a synthesis of our knowledge. Our technicians blend all of that and we hope to create a very competitive and astonishing car. Our technologies are derived from past experiences in Formula 1 and road cars,” he explains in an exclusive interview given to motorsport.tv on the Ferrari channel.
« Ferrari is a large company, with a very important technical heritage, and our role has always been to be innovative. Given the new regulations, it was impossible not to go fishing for knowledge, and the most important thing to emphasize is that the LMH is not just a project of a part of the company but a cross-functional project, as Ferrari is one. It would be foolish not to take advantage of all the expertise at our disposal. »
The new infrastructure built near the Ferrari Fiorano test track will serve for the development of the LMH prototype as well as the 296 GT3, allowing for easier technology exchange between the road, F1, and WEC. According to the program director, the Ferrari LMH is set to roll out for the first time in July, although no further information regarding the powertrain is available. The only known detail is that the hybrid system of this car will be placed on the front axle.
The first version of the LMH actually ran on the simulator a year ago already. « It is clearly something that has continued to evolve month after month, after analyzing the results. Each session brings new ideas to the table. The car exists virtually and we are continuously developing it. Now, we can’t wait to see it on the track. (e)
