Last year, in the 6 Hours of Bahrain, Ferrari took the FIA World Endurance Championship GTE constructors title with two rounds to go in the season, while AF Corse took the lead in the teams classification.

Three-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Ferrari 499P continues to evolve. At Monza, the Italian manufacturer has launched a new phase of testing to prepare the next evolution of its Hypercar for the 2027 season.

With the 95th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans set to take place from 9&ndash;13 June 2027, Ferrari is continuing the development of its 499P. The Maranello-based manufacturer recently completed a full day of testing at the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, evaluating new technical and aerodynamic solutions ahead of the 2027 FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) season.

The programme underlines a fundamental aspect of endurance racing: even winning cars never stop evolving.

<h2>At Monza, Ferrari Is Already Writing the Next Chapter of the 499P</h2>

At the legendary Italian circuit, Antonio Fuoco, Antonio Giovinazzi, Alessandro Pier Guidi and Miguel Molina shared driving duties in the Ferrari 499P. The goal was not to chase lap times, but to explore new development directions.

Like an artist refining an already acclaimed masterpiece, Ferrari continues to evaluate a range of technical and aerodynamic configurations. Several solutions are currently under assessment before the car&#39;s final homologation for the 2027 season. Every stint, every piece of driver feedback and every data point collected helps shape the next evolution of the Prancing Horse&#39;s Hypercar.

<h2>A Hypercar That Never Stops Improving</h2>

Since making its FIA WEC debut at Sebring in 2023, the Ferrari 499P has established itself as one of the benchmark cars of the Hypercar era.

Its record speaks for itself: seven victories, twenty-four podium finishes, nine pole positions and, above all, three consecutive wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans between 2023 and 2025. That momentum also enabled Ferrari to secure both the FIA WEC Manufacturers&#39; and Drivers&#39; World Championship titles in 2025.

Yet those achievements are not the finish line. They are the foundation for further progress. In endurance racing, a car is never truly finished; it continues to develop with every kilometre, much like an athlete who keeps training after winning a medal.

The Monza test once again highlights why the 24 Hours of Le Mans is far more than a race. It is a proving ground where manufacturers constantly push the boundaries of technology, performance and reliability.

By preparing the next evolution of the 499P for 2027 today, Ferrari is demonstrating that past success guarantees nothing for tomorrow. At the 24 Hours of Le Mans, every edition starts with a clean slate. It is this relentless pursuit of progress that fuels the legend of the race and makes every new generation of Hypercars a promise of even greater competition.

Monza will also host the final round of the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) season, with the race taking place on Sunday, 8 November.

Ferrari Tests an Updated Version of the 499P at Monza

The 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship campaign will conclude with a pair of European races in Spain and Italy, after ongoing regional developments affecting freight and travel arrangements obliged the cancellation of the planned events in Qatar and Bahrain.

The final two rounds, originally scheduled to take place in Qatar and Bahrain, will instead be held at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and Autodromo Nazionale Monza.

The inaugural 6 Hours of Barcelona will take place over the weekend of 16-18 October, and will mark the first time FIA WEC has visited the track, which has in recent years successfully hosted the European Le Mans Series and Michelin Le Mans Cup.

Monza, meanwhile, has a long association with the pinnacle of international endurance racing stretching back more than 60 years, having welcomed the FIA World Sportscar Championship on multiple occasions &ndash; yielding victories for heroes of the sport such as John Surtees, Mario Andretti and Jacky Ickx.

From 2021 to 2023, FIA WEC travelled to &lsquo;The Temple of Speed&rsquo; for three consecutive seasons, resulting in triumphs for Toyota and Alpine. The 2026 edition of the 6 Hours of Monza will be held on 6-8 November. The calendar change is subject to the approval of the FIA World Motor Sport Council.

Fr&eacute;d&eacute;ric Lequien, CEO, FIA WEC, said:

&ldquo;We have been closely monitoring developments in the Middle East over recent months. A few weeks ago, we were optimistic about being able to race in Qatar and Bahrain, but unfortunately, the present situation obliges us to switch to an alternative plan.

&ldquo;We have duly resolved to replace those two end-of-season rounds with Barcelona and Monza. Logistically, it was imperative to take this decision now to allow manufacturers, teams and the FIA WEC organisation to make all necessary arrangements.

&ldquo;I would like to warmly thank Qatar and Bahrain for their understanding in these times. We have been in constant dialogue with both tracks and their national federations, and are proud of the close, long-standing relationships we have built in the Middle East. They are hugely important and well-established events in FIA WEC, and will remain so for many years to come.&rdquo;

Pierre Fillon, President, Automobile Club de l&rsquo;Ouest, said:

&ldquo;We are navigating an exceptionally complex period in the Middle East. Together with Fr&eacute;d&eacute;ric Lequien, we have been monitoring developments on a daily basis and working closely and transparently with all stakeholders to identify the best possible solution.

&ldquo;The ACO has built strong and lasting relationships with governments, motorsport federations, promoters and partners across the Middle East. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to our colleagues in Qatar and Bahrain for their remarkable commitment and for the considerable efforts they have made over recent weeks in an attempt to preserve these two events.

&ldquo;We are deeply disappointed that we will not be able to race in Qatar and Bahrain this year. These countries have become important members of the FIA World Endurance Championship family, and I want to be very clear &ndash; we are fully committed to returning to both venues in 2027 as scheduled. We already look forward to being reunited with our partners and fans there.

&ldquo;In the meantime, I would also like to thank Barcelona and Monza for their responsiveness and for welcoming the World Championship at such short notice. I have no doubt that both circuits will provide an outstanding stage for endurance racing.&rdquo;

His Excellency, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the FIA, said:

&ldquo;I am incredibly proud of the collaboration that will enable Barcelona and Monza to host FIA World Endurance Championship rounds later this year. The FIA has worked closely with our partners in Qatar and Bahrain in recent months to explore every option to preserve both events this season, but due to the ongoing situation in the region, the safety of our teams, colleagues and motorsport fans remains our highest priority. These are never easy decisions, but protecting the wellbeing of our motorsport community will always come first.

&ldquo;My thanks to all of our Member Clubs who have helped to make these updates possible, Lusail International Circuit, Bahrain International Circuit and our championship colleagues whose partnership and support throughout this process reflects the very best of our sport. Our thoughts are with all those affected by the situation in the region, and we look forward to returning when circumstances allow.&rdquo;

Abdulrahman bin Abdullatif Al Mannai, President, Qatar Motor &amp; Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) and Lusail International Circuit (LIC), said:&nbsp;

&ldquo;We fully respect the decision taken by FIA WEC to call off this year&rsquo;s Qatar 1812km. Our commitment to this partnership remains as strong as ever, and we look forward to working closely with both the FIA and FIA WEC to deliver an exceptional event when the championship returns to Lusail International Circuit.

&ldquo;We are grateful to our fans, partners, teams and the wider motorsport community for their continued support, understanding and confidence. We look forward to welcoming everyone back in the near future.&rdquo;

Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa, Chief Executive, Bahrain International Circuit, said:

&ldquo;Over recent weeks, we have been in close coordination with our colleagues at FIA WEC and other stakeholders. Whilst we are naturally disappointed not to be hosting the pinnacle of world endurance racing in 2026, we support the decision, which is in the best interests of all involved.

&ldquo;On behalf of all of us at BIC, I thank the entire FIA WEC community for their support and we look forward to welcoming the return of the series next year, together with fans from all around the world.&rdquo;

The modifications to the series&rsquo; 2026 schedule have no impact upon the nine-round 2027 calendar, which remains <a href="https://www.fiawec.com/en/news/fia-wec-reveals-nine-round-2027-calendar-as-series-expands/13598">as announced on 12 June</a>.

FIA WEC confirms venues for final two rounds of 2026

The spectacular action Hypercars deliver at Le Mans is undeniable. Yet, some of the most remarkable accomplishments kick off weeks earlier. To reach the circuit, racing cars, parts, tools and teams travel thousands of kilometres. As the winner of the 2026 Sustainable Endurance Award, Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA demonstrates its expertise in behind-the-scenes logistics.

24 Hours of Le Mans&nbsp;competitors leave nothing to chance. So many variables &ndash; like&nbsp;suspension settings, pit stop precision&nbsp;and&nbsp;tyre selection &ndash; can determine the outcome of the&nbsp;race. Well&nbsp;before the cars take&nbsp;the track, teams face a variety of&nbsp;challenges&nbsp;transporting personnel, equipment&nbsp;and infrastructure to the circuit. For Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA, this preparation has become an arena for innovation&nbsp;where every decision is designed to balance efficiency and&nbsp;responsibility.

<h2>a race that begins across the Atlantic</h2>

For teams competing at the highest level of endurance racing, making the journey&nbsp;to Le Mans is a monumental logistical undertaking. From racing cars and spare parts to tools, IT equipment&nbsp;and hospitality facilities, hundreds of items must arrive at the right place at the right time.

This year, Cadillac started reworking&nbsp;its process. Now&nbsp;90% of the equipment shipped from the U.S.&nbsp;crosses the Atlantic by sea, compared to 70% in 2025. This choice &mdash; slower but more environmentally responsible &mdash; illustrates a profound shift in the preparation&nbsp;for an event like the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The team also modified&nbsp;its routines after arriving in Europe. Members of the American programme travel from Paris to Le Mans by high-speed train rather than by air, while Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA opts for road transport from its U.K. workshops. Several key pieces of technical equipment are now stored in Europe between events, rather than making a round trip across the Atlantic after every race.

<h2>meticulous organisation</h2>

For Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA, logistics is no longer just a matter of transport. It is now an&nbsp;exercise in anticipation. What tools can be purchased locally? What equipment can remain in Europe? How can travel be minimised without compromising the team&#39;s efforts? These are all questions that have become a&nbsp;crucial aspect&nbsp;of preparing for Le Mans.

This approach&nbsp;extends to hospitality facilities (reused year after year) and&nbsp;to the focused and&nbsp;precise management of energy and resource consumption during the event. It is a comprehensive strategy that helped set Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA apart at the 94th 24 Hours.

<h2>Le Mans: a challenge on and off the track</h2>

This legendary race&nbsp;is very much about the men and women who, weeks before the start, coordinate a veritable ballet to ensure everything is ready on time.

Part of the&nbsp;DNA of endurance racing is mobilising&nbsp;logistics specialists and engineers alike, as well as transport managers and mechanics because each individual&nbsp;plays a vital role in ensuring the cars are ready to hit the track&nbsp;under the best possible conditions.

In presenting the 2026 Sustainable Endurance Award by DHL (Hypercar class) to Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA, the jury panel&nbsp;recognised the team&#39;s ability to rethink essential behind-the-scenes aspects of the race. It serves as a reminder that at Le Mans&nbsp;endurance racing is about more than just the 24 hours spent on the circuit. It begins long before that&nbsp;sometimes thousands of kilometres away from the starting line.

Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA's journey to the 24 Hours of Le Mans

At the 94th 24 Hours of Le Mans, Team WRT opened its doors to pupils with learning difficulties in the clear belief that everyone has something to bring to the motorsport table.

The two-day event gave a class of pupils with special needs the opportunity to witness a facet of the 24 Hours of Le Mans that few spectators get chance to see. Thanks to racing driver Maxime Robin, his association Framework 24, and go-kart expert Gabin L&eacute;ger, they experienced the very essence of the event with Team WRT. The pupils were treated to karting sessions and garage tours and were introduced to team members. Team WRT set out to show that motorsport is a team sport, in which everyone has a role to play.

<h2>Leaving the comfort zone, one lap at a time</h2>

Day 1 was at the go-kart track. But it wasn&rsquo;t all about driving. The young participants were encouraged to work as a team, to take turns, and to make progress together &ndash; a direct experience of endurance racing values. To some, taking the wheel of a go-kart was a challenge in itself. Others learned to trust their teammates or step outside their comfort zone.

Just like at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, speed was not the only key to success. It was based on mutual aid, perseverance and individual contribution to a collective goal.

Gabin L&eacute;ger took part in a similar Team WRT initiative last year. This year, he recounted his career history to the pupils, sharing his love of go-karting and the challenges he has overcome as he pursues his life goals. This real-life illustration impressed Team WRT&rsquo;s point.

<h2>Behind a race car there&rsquo;s a host of people</h2>

Day 2 was a discovery of the behind-the-scenes operations at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The group took a tour of the Team WRT Hypercar and LMGT3 garages, watching mechanics and engineers at work, and observing an array of less well-known roles. Communication, logistics, catering, management and coordination are all indispensable to the day-to-day running of and endurance racing team.

The immersion was the perfect way to convey the message that there is more to motorsport than meets the eye. Behind every 24 Hours of Le Mans entry there are dozens of people contributing to the race effort.

The young visitors left with fresh perspectives. Some can now see themselves in a workshop, others in a design bureau or in event organisation roles. All are convinced of the wide range of jobs available in motorsport.

Team WRT CSR Manager L&eacute;a Dumoulin: &ldquo;The project aims to incite vocations. We set out to show that motorsport is a whole ecosystem, built on teamwork and perseverance and that there are manys ways in. If we convince just one pupil that they have a role to play here, then we&rsquo;ve succeeded.&rdquo;

The initiative is part of of a wider Team WRT scheme to promote inclusion and transmission. The team also hosted trainees from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.garageecoledumans.fr/" target="_blank">Garage &Eacute;cole du Mans</a> in their Hypercar and LMGT3 teams, offering them hands-on experience in a pit lane box.

Team WRT won this year&rsquo;s LMGT3 24 Hours of Le Mans <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/sea/prize-list">Sustainable Endurance Award by DHL</a>.

2026 24 Hours of Le Mans: Confidence-boosting for school children at Team WRT

Thanks to perfect reliability, the prancing horse took all three titles in the LM GTE Pro class at the end of the 2012 season, and with massive margins, 100 points ahead of second place in the constructors race and 60 points in the teams title chase. Relive Giancarlo Fisichella and Toni Vilander&#39;s victory at Sakhir, Bahrain in the following video.

	<img class="imgVideo" id="2037" src="/wpphpFichiers/video/2037-ferrari-reigns-wec-at-the-6-hours-of-bahrain.jpg" />

	All of our videos are available at: <a href="http://www.lemans-tv.com/">www.lemans-tv.com</a>.

	Thierry Arman et C&eacute;cile Bonardel / ACO - Translated by Rainier Ehrhardt / ACO

Look back: Ferrari wins title in the 6 Hours of Bahrain 2012 (video)

Related News

Ferrari Tests an Updated Version of the 499P at Monza

FIA WEC confirms venues for final two rounds of 2026

Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA's journey to the 24 Hours of Le Mans

2026 24 Hours of Le Mans: Confidence-boosting for school children at Team WRT

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