Best of 2022: Ferrari 499P, the Queen is back

There 499P not a Ferrari like the others. It is more, a dream that became a reality on October 29 when, at the Finali Mondiali event at the Imola racetrack,hypercars Lmh that Cavallino, after half a century, will return to play a full classification in the World Endurance Championship (FIA Wec) in 2023. And in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Many things. Returning to memories of some lovers and hope for the future. And also of great curiosity from those who, young, have seen the Reds run at the highest level in Formula 1 only.

What are you waiting for. In our “Best”, therefore, such an exciting machine could not be missed. The 449P, red with yellow bands like the 1973 312 P, really brings all the way to a great challenge, which Ferrari will face with the world’s leading automotive elite: Toyota, Peugeot, PorscheCadillac, awaiting arrival, in 2024, also of Alpine, BMW and Lamborghini. In short, a Cavallino that will once again have to prove itself as the best among the greats, especially where – and I’m talking about the “24 Hours” of France – the Maranello company has created an important part of its history, with seven victories. he won between 1958 and 1965 (the latter, chronologically). In short, it is the “rentrée” of the queen that revives the public’s interest in wheel racing, considering the debut of the 499P – indeed, of the 499P, given that there will be two competing prototypes – on March 17, at 1000 Miles of Sebring.

But GTs… At this point, however, a clarification is urgently needed: it is not that, in these 50 years of the absence of the first class of endurance racing, Ferrari has not stayed in its hands. In contrast, the maranello berlinettas derived from the series have achieved many world championship successes: notably the last, 488 GTE in the LMGTE Pro class, since 2016 he has collected no fewer than four Constructors’ and three Drivers’ titles. This incredible result, the result of the skillful and cohesive team work, as well as the tenacity of the GT Sports Operations manager, Antonella Coleetcfor, must have been measured on the table when it came time to approve the 499P project. Which was born using the best quality of Ferrari, assembled in every unit, including the Cinema Center. Now it will be up to the boys of covered wheels to do better, knowing that, in front of them, they will have a road full of difficulties, but also very exciting.