Supercar companies building limited-run track day specials is nothing new, but Ferrari is the first to base its millionaires’ plaything on a car to have won Le Mans.
It’s called the 499P Modificata and it is closely related to the 499P that took overall victory at the 100th anniversary of the 24-hour endurance race earlier this year. The car is described as “strictly limited” and reserved for “non-competitive use”. So it won’t be entering a race series any time soon, but will instead serve as the ultimate track toy for Ferrari’s most loyal (and wealthy) customers.
What’s more, because the 499P Modificata doesn’t have to comply with any competition rules, it features what Ferrari describes as “significant modifications” over the Le Mans winner. These include specially developed tires, active four-wheel-drive at all speeds (instead of only above a certain speed, as per racing rules), and extra power.
There’s also a push-to-pass function, where drivers can press a button to unlock extra performance to complete an overtake – which, if customers take their car to an open track day, is likely to happen rather a lot. The car also has a completely recalibrated suspension setup and new engine mapping for its 2.9-liter V6 motor.
Ferrari says the 499P Modificata will be eligible to compete in the company’s own Sport Prototipi Clienti program that will run alongside Ferrari’s F1 Clienti event calendar, where customers can purchase and drive heritage Formula One cars. This will let buyers participate at events on various international circuits, with Ferrari taking care of logistics, track-side assistance and maintenance. I gather owners can ask to store their cars at home, or take them to events other than those hosted by Ferrari, but extra costs apply to do so.
The car looks strikingly similar to the Le Mans-winning 499P. Ferrari says, “The 499P Modificata retains the cockpit, with its single-seater layout, and ergonomics of the 499P, providing clients with exactly the same driving experience as the crews who drove the racing cars #50 and #51 that took the win, Hyperpole and fastest lap in the race at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.”
The Italian company goes on to describe the 499P Modificata as “the highest-performance closed-wheel car Ferrari has ever proposed for non-competitive use on the track.”
With a V6 engine powering the rear axle and an electric motor sending power forwards, the 499P Modificata has a total output of 640 kW (858 horsepower). An ERS (energy recovery system) like that of the Le Mans car and F1 racers feeds energy back into the 800-volt battery when braking and deceleration, ready to be deployed again when accelerating.
Ferrari says the car’s suspension has been set up to “maximize driving thrills and ensure the car behaves predictably in all conditions, adding, “The engine and drivability maps were fine-tuned according to the same philosophy”. The Pirelli tires, also unshackled by racing rules, were “developed for predictable handling and to maximize feedback in non-competitive driving, making them quick to warm up and promoting consistent grip levels,” Ferrari says.
All of this adds up to a car that sounds like it’ll be far more approachable and driver-friendly than the sharper-edged 499P racer. That’s exactly what Ferrari’s exclusive club of so-called gentleman drivers expect from their latest plaything.
As you might well imagine, all of this does not come cheap. At €5.1 million ($5.4 million) plus tax, the 499P Modificata is one of the most expensive Ferraris ever made. It is also likely to be one of the most exclusive, although Ferrari has not yet said how many it intends to build.