50 years
later, Ferrari returns to Le Mans.
The 2023
edition of the legendary race is all the more special as it marks the return of
the Ferrari hypercar to the 13-kilometre Le Mans circuit. 50 years on, it is at
the wheel of the N°50 and N°51 Ferrari 499Ps that the drivers will race to
thrill us.
Between the
50s and 60s, Ferrari won nine times (1949, 1954, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963,
1964 and 1965) in the top category, before retiring for half a century. From
1960 to 1966, Ferrari masterfully dominated the championship, winning the 24
Hours of Le Mans 6 times in a row with the 250 generation and its models: 250
TR, 250 GT SWB, 250 GTO, 250 P and 250 LM. Ferrari withdrew from competition in
1973, the Ferrari 312PB being the last model entered by the Prancing Horse
marque.
The Ferrari
499P had already distinguished itself this season with a series of podium
finishes at Sebring, Portimao and Spa-Francorchamps. Its return to Le Mans is
all the more distinguished given that the Ferrari 499P dominated the
preliminary practice sessions for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. With 7 Hypercars in
the same second, the race is likely to be extremely close and exciting
throughout.
The grid is now
complete, with 186 drivers and 62 cars in pursuit of a single dream: crown.
Don't miss the start of the 100th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, this
Saturday 10 June at 16:00.