Ferrari Testing New LeMans Racer?

"Road Magazine" (roadmag) 01/03/2014 at 17:40 • Filed to: None

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"I quite like the idea of racing at Le Mans in the highest category: who knows, maybe one day we can return and win, say thanks and come home. Maybe we should give it some serious consideration…"

Those are words from Ferrari CEO Luca Di Montezemolo. He has the dreams to compete in the LMP1 and they are coming closer as the first pictures showing a possible Ferrari prototype for Le Mans have emerged.The pictures follow a recent video of a modified LaFerrari model racing around the Fiorano test track (shown below). Early speculation suggested that car would have been a new turbocharged V6 destined for Formula 1, however, it seems more likely now that it could have been a different powerplant destined for prototype racing at Le Mans. Something within the likes of a supercharged V8 hybrid suitable for racing at the 24 hours of LeMans.

If Ferrari were to enter the P1 prototype racing class at Le Mans it wouldn't likely be until the 2016 season, though by then the field would be increasingly competitive. Along with the dominant Audi team, Toyota has been competing for the past several years and both automakers will be joined by Porsche this coming season. Di Montezemolo's ambitions to race the P1 class at Le Mans don't come out of the blues. Ferrari's last win in this class was in 1965 with the Ferrari 250LM.

Click the following link for more info & pics - !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

For Sweden > Road Magazine 01/03/2014 at 17:43

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I'm pretty sure it's a Ferrari LaFerrari LaXX

Manuél Ferrari > For Sweden 01/03/2014 at 17:46

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X-D

TA4K > Road Magazine 01/03/2014 at 17:47

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the nose actually looks kinda 458-ish to me.

Pessimippopotamus > TA4K 01/03/2014 at 18:03

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If we want to be pedantic, that's the FF headlight on that thing. The doors look LaFerrari-esque, but not quite.

I wouldn't be surprised if it looked like that to fool people.

McChiken116 - Patrick H. > Road Magazine 01/03/2014 at 18:29

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10/10 would rally.... er, I mean would LeMans

daender > Road Magazine 01/04/2014 at 08:42

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"Ferrari's last win in this class was in 1965 with the Ferrari 250LM."

"You're welcome."

365Daytonafan > Road Magazine 01/04/2014 at 08:44

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Pretty sure that's not an LMP car. The LaFerrari glasshouse is too wide for LMP and the rest of the Aero looks way to crude compared to the Audi R18 or Porsche 919. Bet this is just another test bed for the new F1 engine.

ratonbox > Road Magazine 01/04/2014 at 08:49

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If Ferrari were to enter the P1 prototype racing class at Le Mans it wouldn't likely be until the 2016 season, though by then the field would be increasingly competitive.

Even better if it's competive. I wouldn't want to root for company that goes: "too many strong teams this year, maybe we'll wait a few years and then go in".

Mojonaut > Road Magazine 01/04/2014 at 08:49

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Make it happen. A bigger P1 field is only going to be good for the sport. A new golden age of endurance racing is just the answer to the politics and monotony of F1.

Eric the RC guy > For Sweden 01/04/2014 at 08:53

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No, that is definitely a lambo dude

Just Cars for Joe Bryant > Road Magazine 01/04/2014 at 09:02

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If it is a V8 with forced induction that would most definitely explain that wonderful old CART Indy Car exhaust sound it possesses.

Sam Guill > Road Magazine 01/04/2014 at 09:08

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LaFerrari GT. 'nuff said.

stoke > For Sweden 01/04/2014 at 09:11

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Mmm, bagels and LaXX. Now I'm hungry.

www-com > Road Magazine 01/04/2014 at 09:13

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Once Ferrari's LeMans racers were as beautiful as their street machines.

Now that their street cars are ugly the racers might as well be I guess

472CID > Road Magazine 01/04/2014 at 09:13

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LaFerrariLaMans

Roberto G. > Road Magazine 01/04/2014 at 09:15

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Bad link:

Good link.

ThatbastardKurtis > 365Daytonafan 01/04/2014 at 09:18

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I was thinking, "Where's the fin?"
Because as you know, even the Pagani 760 and the Lambo Veneno have the Le Mans middle fin section...although not as prominant as the Le Man's versions—-which go straight back from the back of the cockpit and all the way the length of the rear to the end of the rear wing.

900turbo > TA4K 01/04/2014 at 09:49

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And a little Enzo-ish out back...
But then again it's all propably a disguise.

Bakkster, touring car driver > 365Daytonafan 01/04/2014 at 09:51

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Not to mention the odd curved wing. Can't be a GTE either with that massive splitter.

Probably just a track-only model like the FXX.

JEM > daender 01/04/2014 at 10:11

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Yes. This.

JEM > Road Magazine 01/04/2014 at 10:17

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If Ferrari comes back to Le Mans, it would be fantastic. They are one of the absolute best racing team/brands in the world and I would love seeing them go against Porsche, Audi, etc...

But mostly I would LOVE LOVE LOVE if it meant a certain blue oval brand decided it was time to spank them again.

If you've never read this, you really really need to: Go Like Hell - The story of Ford

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

vs Ferrari

or I guess.... you could wait for the movie to come out

I really hope that makes it through production and to a major release.

NoahthePorscheGuy > Road Magazine 01/04/2014 at 10:18

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Using wild speculation, I'm going to proclaim you all idiots and say that this isn't a LMP prototype, it's still just a F1 testing rig. The extra down force is to test that all the cooling and oil still work properly at high G's

TJ_V_67 > Road Magazine 01/04/2014 at 10:20

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Probably not going to see that car at Le Mans but I wouldn't doubt that whatever is propelling it couldn't find its way under the hood of a Prototype one day.

ScreenShot > daender 01/04/2014 at 10:27

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Funny how long a good spanking sticks with some people...round 2 would be perfect right about now, I think.

jph > Road Magazine 01/04/2014 at 10:32

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Its definitly not a LMP1 car (Or at least not one built to current rules).

Its probably some sort of racing version of the LaFerrari.

alan666 > Road Magazine 01/04/2014 at 11:06

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A new 333SP or LaFerrari LM ?

alan666 > Road Magazine 01/04/2014 at 11:07

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that link in the OP doesn't work :(

Just wear your damn mask... > Road Magazine 01/04/2014 at 11:20

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Might this be something Glickenhaus?

ZabiakFero > Road Magazine 01/04/2014 at 11:20

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it would be nice to see Ferrari racing at Le Mans instead of selling overpriced polo shirts and keychains to older bold gentlemen

Road Magazine > alan666 01/04/2014 at 11:21

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Link updated! Sorry about that

Fuel_of_Satan > Just wear your damn mask... 01/04/2014 at 11:31

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Glickenhaus on Fiorano? I'm not sure they have that kind of relationship any more.

puddler > Road Magazine 01/04/2014 at 11:39

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sounds like my ex's hyundai.

fredzy > Road Magazine 01/04/2014 at 11:43

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Man, I wish someone would make an affordable 18" version of those wheels. The closest thing I've found is the LS Car Design LS20.

That_silver_sti_22 > Road Magazine 01/04/2014 at 11:47

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Looks like a test mule to me, very well could be an early LMP chassis/engine prototype without all of the aero bits worked out.

TheCroatianGuy > Road Magazine 01/04/2014 at 11:53

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(Ford)

mynamesteve > 365Daytonafan 01/04/2014 at 11:54

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You're right. It doesn't appear that any bodywork on that car complies with LMP1 techinical regulations, at least dimensionally. It looks more like a GT car but it doesn't look like it would comply with any GT championship that I know of either, so I have no idea what Ferrari is building it for.

ethanheisler > Just wear your damn mask... 01/04/2014 at 12:09

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No, thats a Fiorano. Considering they didn't let him call the P4/5 a Ferrari they definetly wouldn't let him use their track to test another one.

Riley Schultz > NoahthePorscheGuy 01/04/2014 at 12:52

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Yep, you can pretty clearly hear the turbocharger.

ExGavalonnj > Road Magazine 01/04/2014 at 13:27

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A future were Porsche and Ferrari battle it out would be awesome

Road Magazine > ExGavalonnj 01/04/2014 at 13:32

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918 vs LaFerrari LMP's at LeMans. I'd pay to watch that.

Goggles Pizzano > Road Magazine 01/04/2014 at 13:42

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Non-hybrid?

Art > Road Magazine 01/04/2014 at 13:43

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A new Massarati?

Marcus Rhatigan > Road Magazine 01/04/2014 at 14:24

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Looks like it should evade ground-to-air missiles quite well.

ReaperChief > For Sweden 01/04/2014 at 14:32

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Ferrari LaFerrari LaXXX Sexy Car Porn

Kaufmania: Mark Webber's Stunt Double > For Sweden 01/04/2014 at 14:39

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Congrats on winning the interwebs for the day!!!!

Kaufmania: Mark Webber's Stunt Double > daender 01/04/2014 at 14:40

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this........ yup

Kaufmania: Mark Webber's Stunt Double > TheCroatianGuy 01/04/2014 at 14:41

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We can only hope.....

Cricket > Bakkster, touring car driver 01/04/2014 at 14:42

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I would say that there is no sense talking about 2016 LMP1 aero at this point since there are no regulations for that particular season yet. So there is a possibity that Ferrari is testing some solutions for Le Mans car or it might be some sort of LaFerrari derivative. As much as I'd love to see Ferrari winning Le Mans in P1 class I'm afraid that this is not it yet cause it looks more like a GT than P1 to me (compared to this years Porsche LMP1)

Kaufmania: Mark Webber's Stunt Double > www-com 01/04/2014 at 14:44

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you just won the internets

Kaufmania: Mark Webber's Stunt Double > TheCroatianGuy 01/04/2014 at 14:45

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Has $kyycogg seen this yet?

Harrison Voorhees > Just wear your damn mask... 01/04/2014 at 14:50

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I doubt they'd let him test at Fiorano. Though it does look similar in design.

Bakkster, touring car driver > Cricket 01/04/2014 at 16:02

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If it's anything, it's a test mule for technology, rather than a prototype for the final car. There's no point speculating on future aero regs, but if Ferrari were preparing that's why they'd work to the current regs. For a test mule they just need performance levels, and it's cheaper to do whatever they want than match the regs.

I agree it looks more GT than prototype. Maybe a P1 mule, maybe a track special for rich guys. I doubt it's a GT racer since the rules for both classes are changing soon.

MalinoisK9 > JEM 01/04/2014 at 16:22

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I would love to see more manufacturer teams fielding cars in the LMP class. If this speculation is true about Ferrari, I'm certain Ford wouldn't be to far behind.

Now really letting my mind daydream.... Ford entering the more prodigious LMP class, would Chevy just stay back in the GTE with the C7.R team or would they step up and field a LMP car too?

With Audi and Porsche in LMP.... will Mercedes or BMW step up to the plate? Come on Toyota grew a pair and showed up!

Now the last final thought... despite the obvious family tree I would LOVE to see what madness in design Lamborghini would come up with if they ever ventured into a serious motor sport like LeMans (Prototype)

And lastly: Peugeot... get your ass back in the game....

You had fordboy357 at "meat tornado" > Road Magazine 01/04/2014 at 16:23

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Ball's in your court now, Ford.

MalinoisK9 > Just wear your damn mask... 01/04/2014 at 16:27

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Pretty sure The Scrambler was asking what Glickenhaus' opinion was on the subject.

RyanFrew > puddler 01/04/2014 at 16:28

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Your ex drove one of these?

puddler > RyanFrew 01/04/2014 at 17:56

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no, mid-90's accent. but i drove it like one of those.

interceptor > Goggles Pizzano 01/04/2014 at 17:57

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Yeah, my first thought was Maserati as well. It kinds looks like a car for privateers or a testbed for F1 engine (considering the tyre size).

Goggles Pizzano > interceptor 01/04/2014 at 18:04

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After I'd posted I thought about the blue headlights as well...

And also given the side mirrors a look too.

saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars > Road Magazine 01/04/2014 at 19:02

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I wonder if they'll return for a 50th anniversary of the 250LM.

CaptainStu > Road Magazine 01/04/2014 at 19:24

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Looks like a KERS battery warning sticker in front of the rear wheels.

duffman1 > Road Magazine 01/04/2014 at 19:35

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If Ferrari does go back to the prototype class then perhaps McLaren should try too, would be awesome for P1 to have many of the best sports car makers around at the moment competing against each other , also if Ferrari are going back to prototypes then it will make the P1 races more interesting as there would be than 2 teams competing against each other...

KurumaKid > Road Magazine 01/04/2014 at 19:40

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I think there's a chance this may not even be for Le Mans, but some other series. This is definitely a LaFerrari, because the Project F150 prototype of the car has the same dimensions as this.

KurumaKid > Road Magazine 01/04/2014 at 19:43

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Im sure this isn't for Le Mans, because the body doesn't look like a prototype or a gt car. Is probably for another series, and it definitely has to be a LaFerrari from the fact that the F150 prototype looks exactly like the car above. Maybe an FXX model??

James Glickenhaus > Just wear your damn mask... 01/04/2014 at 19:54

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Mule testing F1 V 6.
IMO Nothing to do with LMP 1 .

Tribesman2004 > Road Magazine 01/04/2014 at 19:55

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Man, just now getting back to Le Mans? Took long enough... Don't worry Ferrari, Fords not in LMP1 for now :P

CaptainStu > interceptor 01/04/2014 at 19:55

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Tire sidewall is way off though which I'd think would make a difference.

Mochimaster > Road Magazine 01/04/2014 at 20:12

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The Maserati prediction in the other comments is the most plausible one imo.

Just wear your damn mask... > James Glickenhaus 01/04/2014 at 20:30

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Shoot. And here I thought you might have had something up your sleeve.

Stökeometric > 472CID 01/04/2014 at 21:20

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Le LaFerrari a la LeMans.

Grant Leavitt > Road Magazine 01/04/2014 at 22:26

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Maybe replacement for the F458 GT3? The design looks wayy too different to be a LaFerrari FXX and I seriously doubt Ferrari would build a whole car just to test an engine (but hey, they have the money to do so). The wheels on the car are common ALMS/WEC GT3 wheels that you see on the SRT Viper GT3 and F458 Italia GT3 cars among others. The Ferrari F458 GT3 is aging and I'm not really sure if the car gets updated by the manufacturer to each year's regs like Porsche's 911 GT3 is.

The roof scoop and long rear end seem to indicate LMP1 class. The greenhouse, as mentioned earlier, seems too wide for LMP1 class as of current regulations, as is the front end design.

But i remember reading that Ferrari wanted to return to LeMans, and gave 2015 as a time point, so maybe the car is built to 2015 or 2016 specifications, not the current 2014 specs. I suspect the greenhouse could be wider for easier entry and could allow easier seeing of the area around the front of the cars, which has been a considerable talking point for the current 2014 regulations.

On another note, what's up with that wing?

Fred Smith > Road Magazine 01/05/2014 at 01:02

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Nothing about that is P1 legal. Just a LaFerrari F1 engine test mule with a big-ass wing.

LegsMalone > Road Magazine 01/05/2014 at 02:48

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Ferrari coming back to LeMans is perfect. Get rid of Audi and win a few years, and then have Ford beat the crap out of them.

d3v > Road Magazine 01/05/2014 at 03:33

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It can't be an LMP1 seeing as it's lacking the mandatory "big honking fin".

d3v > 365Daytonafan 01/05/2014 at 03:43

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The front end alone is all wrong for P1. Also, it's missing the mandatory "big freakin' holes" over the wheels.

d3v > Road Magazine 01/05/2014 at 03:46

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Except it looks nothing like a modern, ACO regulations legal P1 racer.

Mikeado > 365Daytonafan 01/05/2014 at 06:35

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It's an early mule, whatever it is. It could just be testing the V6T engine (as seen in the video).

ClarenceK > Road Magazine 01/05/2014 at 08:28

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what Curtis explained I can't believe that people can profit $4956 in 4 weeks on the computer. view website.­­a­s­h­4­6­.­­­­

HaroldA > Road Magazine 01/05/2014 at 09:55

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my neighbor's mom makes $62 every hour on the laptop. She has been unemployed for five months but last month her pay was $12401 just working on the laptop for a few hours. more information.­­a­s­h­4­6­.­­­­

Road Magazine > HaroldA 01/05/2014 at 09:58

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Go away.

Mr.K > Road Magazine 01/05/2014 at 10:13

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Its definitely a Maserati. Just look at the wheels

(Maserati wheels are trident inspired, whilst ferrari's are star inspired)

alan666 > Road Magazine 01/05/2014 at 11:04

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it still says i don't have permission

Road Magazine > alan666 01/05/2014 at 11:13

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Clear your cache :)

DETROIT > Bakkster, touring car driver 01/05/2014 at 11:33

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I think you are spot on - nothing about this screams LMP to me. It's obviously a test chassis for engine development. And why is it being speculated that a supercharged V8 hybrid is more suitable for racing at Le Mans? If anything a 4 or 6 cylinder turbo hybrid is proving to be the most competitive set-up. If they were serious about Le Mans they could be testing engine tech. Anyone know what the '16 engine regs are?

alan666 > Road Magazine 01/05/2014 at 13:28

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i have, i have also tried it on another browser.

Bakkster, touring car driver > DETROIT 01/05/2014 at 13:41

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New engine regs for 2014, don't expect huge shifts by 2016. Engines are essentially free up to 4 bars of boost, the other manufacturers have turbo 4 and 6 cylinder plus an 8 cylinder NA. Balance will be done by fuel consumption, so the goal is to make the most efficient engine rather than more powerful.

996C2 > Road Magazine 01/05/2014 at 19:03

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Looks like a weird GT1-98 EVO.

MrBowles > Road Magazine 01/06/2014 at 02:26

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Looks like a Special edition LaFerrari to me, maybe like the LaFerrari version of the FXX? Definitely not an LMP1 car, aero is way off, the wing is too small, nothing is right for it to be an LMP1 car

McLarry > Road Magazine 01/06/2014 at 13:29

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Di Montezemolo's ambitions to race the P1 class at Le Mans don't come out of the blues. Ferrari's last win in this class was in 1965 with the Ferrari 250LM.

I don't know...sounds kind of like a case of the blues to me.

FutureHeelToeHistorian > Road Magazine 01/06/2014 at 14:05

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Sure sounds like a turbo v6, so yeah it must be a 2014 F1 engine test mule. But good lord did it sound glorious in the last 10 sec. So much more nuanced and angry sounding than the outgoing v8s.

BigBird > Road Magazine 01/07/2014 at 20:16

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What about a new DP car??

Nate Bleker > Road Magazine 04/16/2014 at 09:37

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Lets hope they make more of these than they did F50 GT's