Wednesday’s announcement further embellishes Ferrari’s status as a leading brand in the world of motor racing.
In addition to becoming a force since Formula 1 began, the Italian marque also won many Lemans races until the mid-1960s. But following the defeat by the Ford Motor Company at the famous French circuit later that decade, Ferrari decreased their sports car racing involvement. But on Wednesday, Ferrari announced that–starting in 2023–it would participate in the World Endurance Championship in the Hypercar Division.
This is the first time the team will be involved in a class higher than the GT category, which Ferrari has been doing since 1973. And, with this decision, in 2023 the company will join other manufacturers in sports car racing, including Toyota and Glickenhaus (who will enter this season), Peugeot, Audi, and Porsche.
Former Ferrari team manager Jean Todt, who now heads F.I.A, is overjoyed about the decision to return. “The announcement … is great news for the FIA, the ACO (Automobile Club de l’Ouest), and the wider world of motorsport. I believe in the concept of road-relevant hypercars competing in the FIA WEC and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. I am looking forward to seeing this legendary brand taking on this ambitious project.”
Ferrari president John Elkann was just as pleased. “In over 70 years of racing, on tracks all over the world, we led our closed-wheel cars to victory by exploring cutting-edge technological solutions – innovations that arise from the track and make every road car produced in Maranello extraordinary.”
Pierre Fillon (photo, Lemans.org)
“Today is a great day for endurance racing,” commented Pierre Fillon, head of the ACO organization, which runs the 24 Hours of Lemans. “Ferrari is coming back to the top-level at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the FIA World Endurance Championship. The hypercar field promises some epic battles.”
Richard Mille, who is head of the FIA endurance commission, is in full agreement. “We took a lot of risks developing the Le Mans Hypercar concept, and a lot of effort and perseverance went into defining the regulations so that they capture the spirit of what we wanted LMH to be. Today, we can be satisfied with the achieved results–with Ferrari joining other renowned brands.”
Frederic Lequien, head of the FIA WEC division, joined the chorus of affirmations. “The news that Ferrari is set to join the new Hypercar category is simply amazing,” he said. “Ferrari is a prestigious marque which is synonymous with Hypercar, so I do not doubt that they will be extremely competitive out on track. We are honored to welcome Ferrari back to the top class of endurance racing.”
Wednesday’s announcement further embellishes Ferrari’s status as a leading brand in the world of motor racing.
