Cars No. 50, 51 and 83 499P enter Hypercar class

Winner earns 50 points in pivotal round that could reshape season standings

Ferrari has won Le Mans 24 Hours three consecutive years

Ferrari's No. 50 499P, competing in the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). [Provided by Ferrari]
Ferrari's No. 50 499P, competing in the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). [Provided by Ferrari]

Ferrari is returning to the Le Mans 24 Hours, the crown jewel of endurance racing. Having won three consecutive times, the Italian marque will chase a fourth straight victory at this year's race while targeting a turnaround in the FIA World Endurance Championship standings.

Ferrari announced Friday it will compete in the 94th Le Mans 24 Hours — the third round of the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) — at the Circuit de la Sarthe in France from June 13 to 14. The race starts at 4 p.m. local time on June 13, or 11 p.m. the same day in South Korea.

The Le Mans 24 Hours is widely regarded as the marquee event of the WEC season. Unlike a standard six-hour race, it carries double points, making it a pivotal round capable of reshaping the entire season. The winning team receives 50 points.

Ferrari will field three 499P cars in the top Hypercar class. The official AF Corse factory team enters the No. 50 and No. 51 499P, while the privateer AF Corse squad runs the No. 83 499P.

Ferrari has been a dominant force at Le Mans in recent years. The No. 51 499P won the race's centenary edition in 2023, and the No. 50 499P took the top spot in 2024. Last year, the No. 83 499P driven by Yifei Ye, Phil Hanson and Robert Kubica completed the hat trick with a third straight Ferrari victory.

This year's Le Mans also gives Ferrari a chance to reverse its fortunes in the WEC championship. After two rounds of the 2026 season — at Imola and Spa-Francorchamps — Ferrari sits third in the Manufacturers' Championship with 42 points, 17 behind the lead.

At the season opener in Imola, the No. 51 499P crew of Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado and Antonio Giovinazzi took pole position before finishing second. The No. 50 499P trio of Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina and Nicklas Nielsen placed sixth, while the No. 83 crew of Ye, Hanson and Kubica finished 10th.

At the following round in Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium, the No. 50 499P delivered Ferrari's best result with a third-place finish. The No. 83 came home sixth, while the No. 51 failed to finish after a collision.

In the Drivers' Championship, the No. 50 crew of Fuoco, Molina and Nielsen sits sixth with 23 points, 12 behind the leaders. Pier Guidi, Calado and Giovinazzi in the No. 51 are seventh with 19 points, while Ye, Hanson and Kubica in the No. 83 are 11th with nine points.

With Le Mans awarding double points, Ferrari is targeting gains in both the Manufacturers' and Drivers' standings. The Circuit de la Sarthe presents a distinct challenge: at 13.626 kilometers, the course combines high-speed sections, night driving and endurance variables that test far more than raw car performance. Pit strategy, driver focus and long-run reliability are all expected to play decisive roles.

Fans can follow the action on Ferrari's official YouTube channel, which will stream onboard camera footage from the No. 50, No. 51 and No. 83 499P cars. Live cockpit-view broadcasts are planned for both the Hyperpole session and the race itself.

The Ferrari Museum in Maranello, Italy, will also hold special hours to coincide with the race. On June 13, the day the race starts, the museum will stay open until midnight and host a live broadcast viewing session in its convention hall. The in-museum live stream continues from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 14.


kwater@heraldcorp.com