WEC | Ferrari confirms AF Corse’s third 499P also in 2025

Ferrari has confirmed that also in the next season of the FIA ​​World Endurance Championship there will be three 499Ps entered in the Hypercar Class.

The news had been circulating for some time now, but the actual official information was given by Antonello Coletta during the meeting with the journalists present at the 24h of Le Mans, including Motorsport.com, when he was asked what it meant to commit to three prototypes at the same time.

In addition to the official cars managed in collaboration with AF Corse, the #83 which the Piacenza team prepares in total autonomy will also be re-proposed, as the Head of Ferrari Endurance and Corse Clienti himself has specified once again.

“Fielding a third car was a huge effort this year, also because the decision came between mid-November and early December, after the enormous development work carried out in 7 months before debuting, with a team almost all new”, says Coletta.

“Let’s say that, after having combined everything, we complicated our lives a little by adding another 499P, but we are very happy with this choice because it provides us with greater data collection and gives the opportunity to young pilots who are part of our team to grow alongside a more experienced one by showing their potential”.

“The same thing goes for engineers and mechanics, having a satellite team is certainly a great help in everything and one more opportunity to obtain a good final result. At this point the confirmation of the third 499P is certain, no further additions are planned at the moment, also because we want to consolidate the existing package”.

“I would like to clarify that the #83 AF Corse team is already a separate entity, the term ‘satellite’ is linked to the aspect of the power-train, which requires engineering support from Ferrari. As I think also happens for the others Builders”.

“It’s obvious that we have control over this, otherwise the team is totally autonomous and can clearly benefit from extra help in setting up the car and the choices that are made.”

“We work in symbiosis and this is what happens with any other team that races with a Ferrari, which has always happened in GT too, where the relationship between Ferrari and the team that uses our products is very close. We exchange data , there are no secrets, as far as we are concerned they are opportunities, not threats, therefore they must be taken and exploited.”

“Also, let’s not forget that, being customers, they must be respected by providing them with maximum support.”

Ferdinando Cannizzo, as head of the Prancing Horse’s endurance cars, also explained that the presence of an additional 499P is very important.

“More than technically, I would say it is more important from a strategic point of view. Having three cars allows us, already during free practice, to divide the work to investigate more solutions which we can then share jointly for the benefit of the team”, she said.

“During the race, however, having three cars there will be the possibility of perhaps anticipating some choices, in such a way as to be able to maximize the final performance.”