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Cetilar Racing has unveiled a distinctive metallic blue Ferrari 499P ahead of its upcoming campaign in the Asian Le Mans Series. The Le Mans Hypercar will feature a driver lineup consisting of team owner Roberto Lacorte, his son Nicola Lacorte, and Ferrari factory driver Antonio Fuoco.
A Unique Livery and Grid Composition
The hybrid prototype showcases Cetilar Racing’s signature metallic blue finish, accented with green stripes around the cockpit canopy and a matching line across the front end. The visual design draws inspiration from the liveries seen on the World Endurance Championship grid this year. Cetilar’s entry will be accompanied by a second Ferrari 499P operated by AF Corse, driven by Luis Perez Companc, Yifei Ye, and Nicklas Nielsen. These two machines will form the entire hypercar grid for the category’s debut in the Asian competition.
Several other manufacturer programs were discussed throughout the year but failed to materialize. Plans for up to three Peugeot 9X8s from the 2022 specification did not happen, alongside discussions regarding four Porsche 963 entries and interest in Acura and Lamborghini LMDh cars. Previous World Endurance Championship participants including Glickenhaus, Isotta Fraschini partnered with High Class Racing, and Vanwall were also linked to potential entries before abandoning their plans. Industry sources indicate that a significant shortage of available Bronze-rated amateur drivers, who are required in the Asian Le Mans Series, served as the primary obstacle for these programs.
European Shift and Upcoming Calendar
The upcoming season will take place entirely in Europe due to logistical challenges and scheduling conflicts. Southeast Asian rounds were ruled out because of unavoidable clashes with MotoGP events at Buriram, alongside budget considerations. This shift caused several well-funded Asian amateur drivers to withdraw from participation, making the 2026-27 campaign an experimental test to see if hypercars can successfully run outside of premier championships like the World Endurance Championship and IMSA.
Team owner Roberto Lacorte expressed great enthusiasm about the upcoming program during the car’s launch event. “This is a milestone in the history of Cetilar Racing. Seeing the beautiful Ferrari 499P up close in our colours is an overwhelming feeling that I can hardly put into words,” he stated. He added that sharing the legendary machine with Antonio Fuoco and his son Nicola represents a dream come true, noting his eagerness to take to the track at Le Castellet in two weeks.
2026-27 Asian Le Mans Series Calendar
14-15 November: Two four-hour races at Le Castellet
16-17 January: Two four-hour races at Jerez
20-21 February: Two four-hour races at Portimao
