You can buy Ferrari’s Le Mans racing car

It’s almost unheard of for a manufacturer to build additional examples of its current top-flight racing car to sell to the general public, but that’s exactly what Ferrari has decided to do with its 2023 Le Mans prototype, the 499P.

That’s right, racing fans: you can buy the actual car that won the 100th running of the Le Mans 24 Hours.

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Ferrari calls it the 499P Modificata and, as the name suggests, it includes a number of key modifications that actually make it faster than the version that won at the circuit de la Sarthe only a few months ago.

Because owners won’t be able to race it – Ferrari is adamant it’s “not for competitive use” – the 499P Modificata isn’t bound by the same FIA sanctioned Balance of Performance regulations that govern the actual racing car.

That means Ferrari has been able to increase power from 520kW to 640kW and also make better use of the electrically driven front axle.

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In the World Endurance championship, hybrid racers are only allowed to use the additional drive and power from their electric sub-systems above 190km/h.

But in the 499P Modificata, all of the extra traction and performance from the e-motor is available all of the time. Count on that to deliver a huge performance gain, especially out of slower corners.

The powertrain itself is identical to the Le Mans car and combines a 2.9-litre 120-degree V6 turbo with a 200kW electric motor mounted on the front axle that’s fed by an F1-derived 800-volt battery pack.

Unlike the Le Mans car, though, the 499P Modificata includes a ‘push to pass’ function that can provide an additional 120kW to take total outputs to 640kW.

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To access the extra grunt – which is similar in concept to the KERS system previously used in F1 – drivers push a button mounted on the backside of the multi-function steering wheel.

Deployments last for 7.0 seconds and the number of available power boosts per lap depends on the battery level and track type.

Another key change is the tyres. While the actual Le Mans car runs on Michelins, the 499P Modificata uses Pirellis specifically developed to suit gentlemen drivers. Ferrari says the Pirellis have been design to “optimise warm up times and reduce degradation over long runs”. Faster to switch on and with less wear? Sounds good to us.

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The rest of the 499P Modificata is nigh-on identical to the actual Le Mans car. Ferrari didn’t provide specific details but when we saw the car in the metal – it was officially revealed today at Mugello in Italy – its aero-honed body looked exactly the same, right down to its melange of carbon flicks, enormous shark fin spine and huge rear wing and diffuser. Trust us, it looks phenomenal.

Even the cabin is identical, with the lucky owners set to strap into the same button-heavy, carbon-trimmed office as Ferrari’s factory drivers. Perhaps understanding its owners might not have the same athletic physique, however, Ferrari did mention it has expanded the ‘door’ to make entry/egress a touch easier.

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The set-up of the car has also been tweaked to make it friendlier for gentlemen drivers, with six-time Le Mans winner Olivier Beretta called in to help develop the chassis set-up.

So how do you get your hands on one? Short answer is unfortunately, you probably can’t. Aside from the fact it costs 5,100,000 euros before taxes, the 499P Modificata will only be made in limited numbers and offered to Ferrari’s most exclusive clients.

Happily, your 5.1 million euros includes two years of running the car, with Ferrari’s Sport Prototipi Clienti program taking car of everything from transport and logistics to running and servicing your ultra-complex racing prototype.

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Owners will be able to take their cars to any circuit they like, however they’ll also be able to piggyback off Ferrari’s existing F1 Cliente program which is run for owners of Ferrari’s old F1 cars.

The 2024 schedule for the 499P Modificata kicks off at Mugello in March – Ferrari says they’ll have three examples at that event – before taking in other iconic circuits like Spa Francorchamps, Leguna Seca, Sonoma, Le Castellet and the Nurburgring before heading back to Mugello to take part in Ferrari’s annual Ferrari Mondiali event.