Ferrari has completed three days of testing at Portimao with its new 499P Hypercar, ahead of the 2023 FIA World Endurance Championship season.
The Italian manufacturer has not homologated the 499P yet, waiting until the very last moment until the 2023 car spec is set in stone.
The AF Corse team, which is running the 499P factory programme for Ferrari, previously tested at Portimao last year. With this latest test it allowed the team to evaluate the improvements made to the car since the last test.
This test, Ferrari says, was primarily focused on reliability and endurance, with the drivers of the 499P taking turns behind the wheel over the course of the three days. The Prancing Horse has completed tens of thousands of kilometres of testing in the run up to its debut in the top Hypercar class of the WEC, at tracks including Monza, Sebring, and Portimao — all venues on the 2023 WEC calendar.
“There are just a few days to go before the Sebring Prologue,” said Nicklas Nielsen, driver of the #50 Ferrari 499P, “and every kilometre covered on the track is useful to understand where and how we can improve our car, ahead of a race debut that will be thrilling for all of us, but at the same time very demanding on a technical level.“
In addition to Ferrari, Porsche has also completed a recent test at Portimao with its 963 Hypercar, with the German manufacturer’s WEC drivers, including Andre Lotterer, in attendance.
The WEC season will begin on 17th March with the 1000 Miles of Sebring, with the official test, The Prologue, taking place on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th March, also at Sebring.
