Ferrari 499P: Le Mans History, Specs and Scale Models

In short

The Ferrari 499P is the Le Mans Hypercar with which Ferrari returned to the top class of endurance racing in 2023, fifty years after its last factory prototype. It won the 24 Hours of Le Mans three times in a row — the No. 51 in 2023, the No. 50 in 2024 and the customer AF Corse No. 83 in 2025 — and took the 2025 World Endurance Championship titles. Scale models cover every chapter of the story, from the 2022 launch livery to the 2025 winner, in 1:43, 1:18 and 1:12 by BBR Models, Looksmart and Bburago.

Few modern racing cars have given collectors a story as complete as the Ferrari 499P. In four seasons it has gone from debut to three consecutive Le Mans victories, a world championship and the end of that winning streak in 2026. Every result produced a specific car, with its own number, drivers and livery details — and that is exactly what makes the 499P so rewarding to collect in scale. This guide covers the car's history, its key specifications and the scale models that reproduce each milestone.

Origins: Ferrari's return to the top class

The 499P (project code F255) was unveiled in October 2022 at the Ferrari Finali Mondiali, the season finale of Ferrari's one-make series. It was built to the Le Mans Hypercar regulations and marked fifty years since Ferrari last entered a factory prototype capable of winning Le Mans overall; one of the two cars carried the number 50 as a tribute. The chassis is built by Dallara, while the aerodynamics were developed together with the Ferrari Styling Centre led by Flavio Manzoni.

For collectors: the BBR Models 1:43 Launch Edition 2022 is the starting point of any 499P timeline — the car as it was first presented, before a single race.

Ferrari 499P specifications

The 499P uses a 2,992 cc twin-turbo 120° V6, the same engine architecture as the Ferrari 296 and 296 GT3, but used here as a fully stressed member of the carbon-fibre monocoque. An electric motor on the front axle adds 200 kW and, as the regulations require, can only drive the front wheels above 190 km/h. Power to the wheels is limited by the rules to 500 kW, and the minimum weight is 1,030 kg.

2023: pole position and a win on debut at Le Mans

The 499P was competitive from its first race, the 2023 1000 Miles of Sebring, where Antonio Fuoco put the No. 50 on pole. At the Centenary 24 Hours of Le Mans, Fuoco took pole again, Ferrari's first at Le Mans since 1973, and the two cars locked out the front row. The No. 51 of Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado and Antonio Giovinazzi won the race: Ferrari's first overall Le Mans victory since 1965, ending Toyota's run of five consecutive wins. The No. 50, delayed by repairs during the night, finished fifth.

For collectors: the 2023 winner is the key car of the whole series. In 1:18 it is available as the BBR Models version with display case or the more accessible Bburago die-cast. To complete the story, add the pole-sitting No. 50 in the BBR Models 1:43 and the No. 50 from Sebring 2023, the car's very first race.

2024: back-to-back with the No. 50

In 2024 Ferrari won Le Mans again, its eleventh overall victory, with the No. 50 of Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina and Nicklas Nielsen holding off the No. 7 Toyota. The previous year's winners in the No. 51 finished third. The same season the customer No. 83 of AF Corse won the Lone Star Le Mans in Texas.

For collectors: the 2024 winner is the most widely reproduced 499P, from the Looksmart 1:12 and the Looksmart 1:18 to the BBR Models 1:43. Bburago offers an after-race version with display case, with the dirt and wear of 24 hours of racing. The third-placed No. 51 completes the podium in Looksmart 1:43.

2025: the hat-trick and the world titles

In 2025 the victory went to the customer car: the AF Corse No. 83 of Robert Kubica, Yifei Ye and Phil Hanson. Kubica and Ye became the first Le Mans winners from Poland and China. It was Ferrari's third consecutive Le Mans win, and the season ended with the World Endurance Championship titles for drivers, manufacturers and teams.

For collectors: the No. 83 is the car with the most distinctive story of the three winners. Choose the Looksmart 1:12 with display case as a centrepiece, or the Bburago 1:18 with display case. The factory No. 51, third in 2025, is available in Bburago 1:18.

2026: the end of the streak

At the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans, the No. 7 Toyota won after a close fight with BMW and Cadillac, ending Ferrari's run of three consecutive victories. The best 499P was the No. 51 in fifth place. Three wins out of the car's first three Le Mans starts remain one of the strongest records of any modern Le Mans prototype.

The 499P Modificata: the track-only version

The 499P Modificata was unveiled at the 2023 Finali Mondiali to celebrate the Le Mans victory. It is a non-competitive, track-only version, free from the racing regulations: its powertrain delivers up to 640 kW (870 cv), with a "Push to Pass" function adding 120 kW for limited periods. It runs in Ferrari's Sport Prototipi Clienti programme, which began at Mugello on 18 March 2024.

For collectors: the Modificata's red, white and black launch livery stands apart from the race cars. It is available in BBR Models 1:18, Looksmart 1:18 and Bburago 1:18.

Ferrari 499P scale models: which maker and scale to choose

BBR Models

Italian resin models with a very high level of finish, often supplied with a display case. The widest choice for the early cars: launch livery, Sebring, Spa and Le Mans 2023.

Looksmart

Italian resin specialist with the strongest range in large scales: with the 2024 and 2025 winners both available in 1:12.

Bburago

Die-cast models in 1:18 at an accessible price, including after-race versions and models with display case. The easiest way to own all three Le Mans winners in the same scale.

See every version in the Ferrari 499P collection, or explore the wider 24 Hours of Le Mans range.