Ferrari Unleashes Lighter, More Powerful Ride at Le Mans 24 Hours

Ferrari is preparing to start the 2025 Le Mans 24 Hours with its 499P Le Mans Hypercar featuring key performance changes. The Italian team will line up for the legendary race at Circuit de la Sarthe on June 14-15 with a lower minimum weight and a boost in power compared to its 2024 setup.

The 499P is set to run at 1042kg, trimmed by 1kg from last year, and its maximum power rises by 7kW—about 9bhp—taking it to a new limit of 515kW, or 690bhp. These adjustments mark an effort by Ferrari as it aims for a third consecutive win at the French endurance classic.

There are Balance of Performance, or BoP, rules in place to keep the cars competitive and to prevent any one team from dominating. This year, Ferrari will see a larger cutback in power above 250km/h, with a 2.9% reduction compared to last year’s 1.7%.

These figures were published ahead of the Test Day scheduled for June 8 and show a notable shift since the last World Endurance Championship race at Spa, where Ferrari’s Hypercar raced at 1057kg and had 489kW of power. The Le Mans BoP system is unique, using simulations rather than race-average data to decide the final settings due to the track’s distinctive 8.47-mile layout.

Ferrari’s main rival, Toyota, has gained notable advantages for the 2025 event. Toyota’s GR010 HYBRID LMH will be allowed to use the maximum Hypercar power of 520kW, equivalent to 697bhp.

That’s up from 508kW last year and a major step up from the 480kW seen at Spa. While the car’s weight remains at 1053kg, the new BoP minimum is 16kg less than Spa.

These alterations point to another tight contest at the front between the top works teams. Other manufacturers have received notable updates as well.

Cadillac’s V-Series.R and Alpine’s A424 LMDh entries both get a small power bump, with increases of 8kW and 10kW, respectively. Porsche’s 963 is unchanged at 511kW, and BMW’s M Hybrid V8 LMDh gains just 2kW.

Peugeot’s 9X8 2024 LMH drops 1kW while its car weight drops by 8kg compared to last year. Aston Martin’s Valkyrie LMH keeps its previous specs at 1030kg and 520kW.

Not all brands are affected equally, making for a diverse performance field. A special feature of the Le Mans BoP is how top speeds are handled.

For 2025, Porsche and BMW will get power gains above 250km/h, with Porsche allowed a 1.4% boost and BMW a 2.0% lift. This could help them overcome straight-line speed disadvantages from previous years.

The guidelines governing BoP changes do not allow tweaks once Test Day figures are released, reflecting a steady approach in rules enforcement by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest and the FIA. Race week activities start with practice on June 11 at 2:00 p.m. local time.

Qualifying for the 93rd running of Le Mans will follow that same evening at 6:45 p.m. The Test Day on June 8 gives teams early access to the circuit for vital running before the race weekend begins.

With Ferrari, Toyota, and the rest of the Hypercar grid set for these new settings, anticipation is building for the 2025 Le Mans 24 Hours. As teams fine-tune their cars in preparation, fans and competitors alike are watching closely to see how these numbers play out once the action gets underway and the Ferrari Lewis Hamilton verdict sparks discussion across motorsport circles.

Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.