In 2023 the new endurance regulations have stimulated Scuderia Ferrari to return to the race that Enzo Ferrari defined as “the grand prix of human and technical skills” in the premier class of Hypercars. 50 years after its last participation in the main class, Ferrari thus returns to the track with the aim of winning the Centenary edition.
And, let’s remember that the most successful Italian driver at the 24 Hours of Le Mans was Emanuele Pirro (5 victories) with Audi.
Brembo: Italian excellence at the centenary
For the race scheduled for 10 and 11 June 2023, Brembo will be present for the 35th consecutive year as supplier of most of the cars at the start. The race has been run since 1923 on the semi-permanent circuit of la Sarthe, characterized by demanding braking, especially near the two chicanes that divide the long Mulsanne straight.
The attention of Brembo technicians, also for this edition, was concentrated on finding the best balance between the lightness of the braking systems, maximization of stiffness and a guarantee of reliability, thanks above all to the fact that the friction material, if used in the correct conditions of use, lasts for the entire competition, without the need for replacement. The incredibly low wear also makes it possible to maintain unchanged and repeatable performance from the start to the end of the race: in a regularity competition, in which the car passes through extremely variable conditions and where different drivers alternate at the wheel, having a braking system that guarantees repeatability performance and response predictability is certainly one of the keys to success.
Technical specifications on the systems
On Hypercars, the friction material is carbon, as it best combines the ability to dissipate heat and lightness. The attention of the Brembo technicians was focused on optimizing the ventilation and the size of the discs, which have a maximum thickness of 38 mm, while the maximum diameter is 380 mm, with an expected mileage of over 6,000 km. There are 432 ventilation holes in the discs, with an operating temperature range between 250°C and 850°C.