It’s been a month since Ferrari announced that its future LMH (Le Mans Hypercar) racer will begin its testing session in July. And today, while Ferrari engineers were busy unveiling the design of the future LMH – well kind of, we’ve only seen a picture of a camouflaged car - the company also took the first prototype to the Fiorano test track for the initial track shakedown, and we must admit: the engine sounds insane. Behind the wheel was two-time world endurance champion Alessandro Pier Guidi.

Ferrari Returns to Le Mans After 50 Years

The last time Ferrari competed in the top class of the Le Mans race was back in 1963 when it dominated the Prototype 3000 class with the 250 GTO. In fact, the first six cars to finish the race were Ferrari models. In 2023 - 50 years later - Ferrari will return to the famous race to compete in the same top class. We must remind you that the company will have to face fierce competition, as makers like Audi or Porsche can brag with no less than 12 and 19 wins, respectively. Both makers will return for the 2023 season but after shorter absences.

Why Isn't Ferrari Competing in LMDh?

If you were wondering why Ferrari didn't follow the footsteps of Cadillac or BMW who will race in the LMDh (Le Mans Daytona hybrid) class, the answer is simple: because in the LMDh class manufacturers have to use a chassis and hybrid setup from one of four different suppliers: Dallara, Oreca, Ligier, or Multimatic. Ferrari, on the other hand, wanted to make the whole car: "the chassis, the combustion engine, the electric power, the gearbox–everything," as Antonello Coletta, Ferrari's head of Competizioni GT, said in a recent interview with TopGear.

2023 Ferrari Le Mans Hypercar - What We Know

We don't have too many details on the LMH's engine, but we know it sounds amazing. We also know that, as per LMH regulations, it must be a V-8 engine combined with a mild-hybrid system. During today’s testing, Ferrari’s engineers concentrated on checking the various propulsion and electronic systems. Of course, they said nothing about what the results were, but we know a lot more testing will follow.

As for the exterior look, the spy shots reveal a long, low hypercar with a massive rear wing. The car also features huge front fenders that sit higher than the rest of the body, a massive splitter, and in general, a very wild body. We will see this LMH racer in the action for the first time on March 2023 when the first WEC race begins.

“After so many months in the simulator, I finally had the chance to drive the real car, and that was a big thrill”, commented Pier Guidi. “Driving the Ferrari that will return to the top endurance class fifty years since the last official participation was very emotional for me. We are only at the start, and much work is ahead of us, but it feels very positive. I am proud and happy to have debuted the LMH, marking the beginning of a new adventure for Ferrari”. Nicklas Nielsen echoed him: “It was a special day… To be one of the first to drive Ferrari’s Hypercar on the track is a dream come true. Ever since I was a little boy, I dreamt of driving a Ferrari, and doing so in the car that will be competing in the top class is incredible. Of course, it’s still a long way to the car’s race debut, but today we took a small step toward that moment”.