Ferrari has opted to implement its first “Joker” technical upgrade for its 499P Hypercar ahead of this weekend’s FIA World Endurance Championship race in Brazil. The changes — which center around the brake cooling ducts on the double Le Mans-winning car — were previously teased to RACER before Le Mans when Ferdinando Cannizzo, Ferrari’s head of endurance race cars, explained that its first significant updates were being planned for later in the season.
The modifications include a redesign of the brake cooling ducts to alter the flow distribution and ensure better cooling efficiency, particularly on tracks that place more stress on the braking system. In its new configuration, the 499P’s distinctive aerodynamic feature is the introduction of a flick under the front headlamps.
“The triumph in France, our second in a row after the Centenary edition, prompted us to accelerate the introduction of the first update on our car for the Interlagos race,” said Antonello Coletta, the Global Head of Endurance and Corse Clienti. “In Brazil, we face a difficult yet stimulating challenge on a spectacular track in front of the passionate São Paulo public.”
Cannizzo added that these improvements have been tested in a wind tunnel and on track.
“After the excellent result at Le Mans, the challenge at the top for the world championship titles is even wider open and, in the second leg of the season, doing our best to try and win the championship in every race will be essential,” he said.
“The Interlagos circuit will see the debut of the first modifications to the 499P. Despite the car’s excellent performance in the 2023 season, we experienced limitations with brake cooling. Therefore, we defined and developed a new cooling duct design in the wind tunnel and on the track to change the flow distribution and deliver greater efficiency. The modification impacted the balance of the 499P, which we restored to the desired value by adjusting other areas of the car.
“Specifically, we modified the underbody, adjusted the heights of some gurney flaps, and introduced a ‘flick’ under the front headlights. The upgrade has allowed us to maintain the 499P’s position within the ‘performance window’ specified by the technical regulations.
“We don’t expect improvements in lap times, but greater versatility and easier adaptation of the car on circuits where braking performance is more demanding and decisive.”