Ferrari 499P Modificata: Limited-series Sports Prototype for non-competitive use unveiled.
18-11-2023 14:33 - CAR NEWS
Ferrari presented the 499P Modificata, a strictly limited-series car for non-competitive track use, at the Ferrari World Finals at the Mugelo Circuit today to celebrate the company's historic return to the top class of endurance racing in the 2023 season. The 499P Modificata is a substantially modified version of the 499P that triumphed in the Centenary edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June this year, and aims at setting a new benchmark for track driving thrills.
The design of the 499P Modificata was defined in collaboration with the Ferrari Styling Centre directed by Flavio Manzoni. The car flaunts its technical and aerodynamic qualities through simple, sinuous forms in an explicit expression of its Ferrari DNA. The flat upper surface of the flanks is sculpted to harmoniously give form to the side pods and wheelarches. The latter are characterised by large openings, with the aim of reducing pressure inside the wheel housings. The headlights lend the front end character and an expressive quality, their design closely evoking the styling cues that make the car instantly recognisable as a Ferrari.
The rear epitomises the combination of technology, aerodynamics and design. A lightweight carbon-fibre skin wraps around the powertrain, leaving wheels and suspension completely exposed. The tail is characterised by a horizontal double wing, with the upper profile carefully designed to produce the required downforce. The lower wing also houses a light bar that lends the design of the rear end a decisive, minimalist character. A multiple air intake for the V6 engine and for cooling the battery and gearbox dominates the car's roof.
Designed for a very select clientele, the 499P Modificata represents a new kind of project for Ferrari: a track-only model developed directly from a racing car rather than a production model, but without the limitations imposed by technical regulations. While the 499P Modificata is based on the 499P, not having to comply with FIA WEC sporting and technical parameters has allowed Ferrari's engineering team to introduce a number of significant modifications that enhance driving thrills and make the car's performance more accessible.
The 499P Modificata's hybrid powertrain combines a mid-rear mounted internal combustion V6 with an electric motor on the front axle. The system can deliver a maximum power output of 640 kW (870 cv), unhampered as it is by FIA-ACO regulations. The ICE shares the architecture of the power unit fitted to the 296 GT3 but has been completely revised by Ferrari engineers to develop dedicated solutions and lower the total weight.
A particularly distinctive characteristic of the 499P Modificata's V6 engine is the fact that it is load-bearing, so it performs a valuable structural function, compared to the GT racers where the engine is mounted on a sub-chassis. The powertrain is equipped with a 200 kW (272 cv) electric motor with a differential and an Energy Recovery System (ERS) which recharges the battery during deceleration and braking. The 800 volt battery pack was developed using the company's Formula 1 experience. The power unit is coupled to a seven-speed sequential gearbox.
A particularly distinctive characteristic of the 499P Modificata's V6 engine is the fact that it is load-bearing, so it performs a valuable structural function, compared to the GT racers where the engine is mounted on a sub-chassis. The powertrain is equipped with a 200 kW (272 cv) electric motor with a differential and an Energy Recovery System (ERS) which recharges the battery during deceleration and braking. The 800 volt battery pack was developed using the company's Formula 1 experience. The power unit is coupled to a seven-speed sequential gearbox.