With exactly two months until release, Studio 397 is giving us a first look at the Ferrari 499P Hypercar prototype in Le Mans Ultimate.
Debuting in the 2023 World Endurance Championship, the 499P marks Ferrari’s return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time in 50 years. For the first time in a racing game, players can race the Ferrari 499P in Le Mans Ultimate.
First look at Ferrari 499P in Le Mans Ultimate
New screenshots show Le Mans Ultimate’s highly detailed recreation of the Ferrari 499P, built from manufacturer CAD data and tested by Ferrari Esports drivers, WEC drivers, and manufacturer engineers.
Notably, this marks the first time the Ferrari 499 has appeared in a racing game. It will join the full 2023 WEC Hypercar, GTE, and LMP2 lineup in Le Mans Ultimate.
No gameplay footage is shown, though, with the reveal trailer featuring only live-action footage of the Ferrari 499P. We hope this isn’t a bad sign, considering Le Mans Ultimate is only two months away from launch.
However, Studio 397 will put the Ferrari 499P through its virtual paces at Monza tomorrow, with images and videos to be shown from the test session.
The Ferrari 499P made its competition debut in the 2023 FIA WEC back in March, finishing third place in the 1000 Miles of Sebring. Driven by James Calado, Antonio Giovinazzi, and Alessandro Pier Guidi, the No.51 499P went on to win the Centenary edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans after a close battle with Toyota.
“Having the opportunity to work with such an incredible group of individuals at Ferrari, which is of course is one of the most well-known brands in the world, has been a pleasure," said Dom Duhan, Head of Studio 397.
"Our technical collaboration has allowed us to replicate the intricacies of the real-world car and without Ferrari's engineering and dedicated input it would undoubtedly have been a bigger challenge to bring the 499P to life. This is the first appearance of this Le Mans winning car in sim racing and gaming, another world-first for the Studio.”
Release date
You’ll get to drive the Le Mans-winning Ferrari 499P along with Hypercars from the 2023 WEC season from Toyota, Porsche, Peugeot, Cadillac, Glickenhaus and Vanwall when Le Mans Ultimate launches on 20 February 2024. The official 2023 WEC game was initially slated for a December 2023 release before being delayed following mass layoffs at Motorsport Games.
Based on the rFactor 2 engine, Le Mans Ultimate is PC-only, but Studio 397 is considering bringing it to consoles if it sells well.
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