Following the announcement of the February release date, now Le Mans Ultimate has showcased the Ferrari 499P for the first time.
Images: Le Mans Ultimate
As the official simulation of the French endurance race and FIA World Endurance Championship, Le Mans Ultimate has previously confirmed that it will include the entire 2023-season grid. But, up until this point, the models of only five vehicles have been showcased.
In fact, despite the release date being pencilled in for two months’ time, gameplay footage has been surprisingly sparse. That is set to change this week, with videos showcasing the reigning Le Mans champion on track expected to be shared tomorrow, 21st December.
Before then, a slick teaser trailer of the Ferrari 499P has been released, using mainly real-world footage before the presumed in-engine static rendering is showcased.
Our first sight of the Hypercar Prancing Horse in the game marks what’s claimed to be the official virtual debut of the model which took Maranello to its first 24 Hours of Le Mans victory in 58 years. That win came after a 50-year absence from the top category.
“Having the opportunity to work with such an incredible group of individuals at Ferrari, which is of course is one of the most well-known brands in the world, has been a pleasure,” says Dom Duhan, Head of the Motorsport Games-owned developer Studio 397.
“Our technical collaboration has allowed us to replicate the intricacies of the real-world car and without Ferrari’s engineering and dedicated input it would undoubtedly have been a bigger challenge to bring the 499P to life.”
Further to the claims that Ferrari has been involved with the development, it’s stated that the development team received CAD from the Scuderia to recreate the car, with Ferrari Esports drivers providing handling feedback.
While it’s not stated specifically which drivers have been assisting with development, with Le Mans Ultimate being a rFactor 2 progeny, we’d be shocked if Ferrari Esports’ race-winners on that platform – Timotej Andonovski, Dennis Jordan and Alex Siebel – weren’t involved.
Now that the 499P has been displayed, of the premier class, the Cadillac V-Series.R, Glickenhaus SCG 007 LMH and Vanwall Vandervell 680 remain to be seen within Le Mans Ultimate. The latter is currently available for rFactor 2 purchase while a licenced SCG mod is also available for the elder platform.
The Ferrari follows the likes of the Porsche 963 and Peugeot 9X8, both of which were recently showcased for the upcoming title. The Toyota GR010 Hybrid was unveiled during last month’s release date trailer.
Le Mans Ultimate will also include the GTE and LMP2 field, plus the circuits of this season with ranked online and asynchronous multiplayer expected. It’s pegged for a 20th February 2024 release via Steam.
We’ll be back tomorrow with further insight, provided the anticipated 499P gameplay footage is of note. Let us know your expectations for Le Mans Ultimate in the comments below.
Images: Le Mans Ultimate
As the official simulation of the French endurance race and FIA World Endurance Championship, Le Mans Ultimate has previously confirmed that it will include the entire 2023-season grid. But, up until this point, the models of only five vehicles have been showcased.
In fact, despite the release date being pencilled in for two months’ time, gameplay footage has been surprisingly sparse. That is set to change this week, with videos showcasing the reigning Le Mans champion on track expected to be shared tomorrow, 21st December.
Before then, a slick teaser trailer of the Ferrari 499P has been released, using mainly real-world footage before the presumed in-engine static rendering is showcased.
Our first sight of the Hypercar Prancing Horse in the game marks what’s claimed to be the official virtual debut of the model which took Maranello to its first 24 Hours of Le Mans victory in 58 years. That win came after a 50-year absence from the top category.
“Having the opportunity to work with such an incredible group of individuals at Ferrari, which is of course is one of the most well-known brands in the world, has been a pleasure,” says Dom Duhan, Head of the Motorsport Games-owned developer Studio 397.
“Our technical collaboration has allowed us to replicate the intricacies of the real-world car and without Ferrari’s engineering and dedicated input it would undoubtedly have been a bigger challenge to bring the 499P to life.”
Further to the claims that Ferrari has been involved with the development, it’s stated that the development team received CAD from the Scuderia to recreate the car, with Ferrari Esports drivers providing handling feedback.
While it’s not stated specifically which drivers have been assisting with development, with Le Mans Ultimate being a rFactor 2 progeny, we’d be shocked if Ferrari Esports’ race-winners on that platform – Timotej Andonovski, Dennis Jordan and Alex Siebel – weren’t involved.
Now that the 499P has been displayed, of the premier class, the Cadillac V-Series.R, Glickenhaus SCG 007 LMH and Vanwall Vandervell 680 remain to be seen within Le Mans Ultimate. The latter is currently available for rFactor 2 purchase while a licenced SCG mod is also available for the elder platform.
The Ferrari follows the likes of the Porsche 963 and Peugeot 9X8, both of which were recently showcased for the upcoming title. The Toyota GR010 Hybrid was unveiled during last month’s release date trailer.
Le Mans Ultimate will also include the GTE and LMP2 field, plus the circuits of this season with ranked online and asynchronous multiplayer expected. It’s pegged for a 20th February 2024 release via Steam.
We’ll be back tomorrow with further insight, provided the anticipated 499P gameplay footage is of note. Let us know your expectations for Le Mans Ultimate in the comments below.
