--- title: "Ferrari 499P Hypercar Sounds Like a Spaceship on Sebring Pole Lap" date: "2023-03-17" modified: "2023-03-17" authors: - name: "Jerry Perez" job_title: "Deputy Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/ferrari-499p-hypercar-sounds-like-a-spaceship-on-sebring-pole-lap" categories: - "News" - "Racing" - "WEC" --- # Ferrari 499P Hypercar Sounds Like a Spaceship on Sebring Pole Lap ![]() *\Getty\* Antonio Fuoco manhandled the No. 50 [Ferrari 499P Hypercar]() to pole position for this weekend's [Sebring 1000 Miles](), eclipsing the race-favorite Toyotas in the first outing for Maranello's new prototype. Watching the onboard camera for Fuoco's pole-setting lap shows just how fast the car is, but it also reveals something even more interesting: the sound. Top-shelf WEC race cars have produced unique sounds for a while now, mostly due to their hybrid systems and complex drivetrain packaging. This Ferrari, however, sounds even more unique—it sounds more like a spaceship than it does a gasoline-powered race car. Under full acceleration, it's hard to even hear the gear shifts over the hybrid whirr—especially compared to, say, a turbo hybrid [Formula]() 1 car. Coasting or braking reveals a bit more of a familiar sound, with the combustion engine's decelerating and downshifting being audible. But once Fuoco steps on the throttle again, there is little to no rumble that would make you believe there's a purpose-built, twin-turbo V6 pumping out a combined 670 horsepower. Of those ponies, approximately 268 come from the electric motor alone. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfV8OgUOSMc&feature=youtu.be Fuoco managed a 1:45.067 lap around the Florida road course, followed by two Toyotas with a 1:45.281 and 1:45.548, respectively. The second Ferrari 499P will start from fourth place after setting a lap time of 1:45.874 during qualifying, while the [Cadillac V-Series R]() rounds out the top five with a time of 1:46.082. The new Porsche 963s had to settle for sixth and seventh positions. Watching onboards from Sebring is always a great reminder of the level of skill necessary to master the bumpy circuit, and Fuoco's lap is a perfect example of mastery. We recently highlighted a video from [Fernando Alonso's pole-setting lap]() at the wheel of his Toyota prototype, and it's mind-blowing. For what it's worth, that car sounds better. The Sebring 1000 Miles kicks off Saturday, March 18, at 10:10 a.m. ET. *Got a tip? Email us at tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Jerry is responsible for upholding The Drive's ethos as an audience-first, enthusiast-driven car blog that serves up industry-leading news, reviews, culture, and motorsport coverage. Overseeing a staff of writers and editors from his home base in Indianapolis, he helps curate the site's daily rundown, as well as its medium- and long-term content strategies. Jerry joined The Drive in 2018 as a writer and worked as news editor and managing editor before becoming the deputy in 2023. As a lifelong car enthusiast and racing fan, Jerry believes that all cars are cool, but the people behind the machines are even cooler. This belief often gives The Drive a slightly different focus from most other car sites, where we explore the humanity behind the machines. When he's not obsessing over the day's biggest stories or hanging out at a race track, Jerry can be found behind the wheel of a car, most likely sharing a laugh with his teenage son or daughter. ### Author social links [Instagram]()