Ferrari returns to top class with Hypercar for Le Mans 2023

Coletta, LMH a stimulating challenge

The new challenge that awaits the men of Competizioni GT consists of three letters – LMH – and stems from the desire to review a Ferrari in the top class of the World Endurance Championship from 2023, fifty years after the last race held by the 312 PB in World Sports Prototypes.

Antonello Coletta, head of Ferrari Sporting Activities GT, believed in the possibility of returning to see the Maranello company fighting for overall victories in races such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans or the title of the premier class.

“Today’s announcement confirms Ferrari’s commitment to the world of endurance” , commented Coletta,  “and comes to the completion of a journey that began in 2006, when we returned to engage in this activity which then led us to create Competizioni GT. From that moment we have been able to bring the Prancing Horse cars back to success in this type of racing, as evidenced by the world titles and victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. We firmly believe in endurance and to be able to announce the return to the top class of the FIA ​​WEC, a championship that sees Ferrari among the founders together with the FIA ​​and ACO, repays us for the efforts and hard work carried out over the years. There is great enthusiasm and desire to face this new challenge, demanding but at the same time stimulating ” .

The statements of the top motorsport leaders at the LMH Ferrari program

Ferrari’s return to the top class in the FIA ​​World Endurance Championship from 2023 has been greeted with enthusiasm by the main exponents of the endurance world.

Jean Todt, FIA President: “The announcement of Ferrari’s commitment to the FIA ​​World Endurance Championship with a Le Mans Hypercar from 2023 represents important news for the FIA, ACO and for the world of motorsport in general. I believe in the concept of the Hypercars participating in the FIA ​​WEC and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. I am looking forward to seeing this legendary brand engaged in this ambitious project ”.

Pierre Fillon, President of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest: “Today is a great day for endurance: Ferrari is once again fighting for the overall classification at the 24 Hours of Le Mas and at the FIA ​​World Endurance Championship. The Hypercar participant park promises epic battles. In addition to Ferrari, in 2023, many manufacturers who have already announced their participation will give their all to win the race in its 100th year. This is excellent news for a discipline based on that will allow us to build a bright future ”.

Richard Mille, President of the FIA ​​Endurance Commission:“We took a lot of risks in proposing and developing the concept of the Le Mans Hypercar, we did a great job in defining the regulations that exactly capture the spirit of what we had in mind for the LMH, in order to allow various philosophies in terms of approach. and the aesthetics of the cars. Today we can be satisfied with the results achieved, with Ferrari joining other famous brands. Ferrari boasts a long and prestigious palmares in competitions, with the recent successes of the constructors’ world titles in the FIA ​​WEC, but also with the numerous victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Although there is still a lot of work to be done, we are already witnessing a historic moment and in a few years the starting grid of the FIA ​​WEC will be the most competitive ever ”.

Frédéric Lequien, CEO of the FIA ​​WEC: “The news that Ferrari will be at the start in the new Hypercar category is simply fantastic. Ferrari will join at least five other manufacturers to compete in the top class from 2023 and this creates the perfect setting for an unforgettable period in endurance history. We are thrilled that our new regulations have attracted such major automotive brands. Ferrari is a prestigious brand that is synonymous with Hypercar, so I have no doubt that they will be extremely competitive on the track. We are honored to welcome Ferrari into the top endurance class ”.