Ferrari F76: first digital hypercar paid tribute to Le Mans

Overview

In the year of its third consecutive victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the 499P, Ferrari presented the F76, the first car created exclusively for the digital world in the form of an NFT. The name paid tribute to Ferrari’s first triumph at Le Mans, achieved 76 years earlier in 1949 by Luigi Chinetti with Lord Selsdon in the Touring-bodied 166 MM barchetta.

Programme context

The F76 was not a production car. It stood as a pioneering virtual project that combined Ferrari’s racing tradition with generative design and digital technologies. Conceived for clients of the Hyperclub programme, it formed part of the digital assets associated with the initiative created to support the 499P competing at Le Mans and in the World Endurance Championship. Through Hyperclub, clients accompanied the official team and experienced that journey alongside it.

Design authorship and intent

Created by the Ferrari Styling Centre under Flavio Manzoni, the F76 functioned as a design manifesto intended to prefigure future Ferrari forms. The project aimed to redefine boundaries through a parametric approach in which form, function, and performance merged as a single organism. Solutions born from the fusion of biomimetics, architectural principles, engineering, and computer science extended beyond styling exercises and led to several patented outcomes.

Form and aerodynamics

Visually, the F76 stood out for a double-fuselage layout derived from a pursuit of purity in airflow management. Wing profiles and refined geometries were devised to enhance performance beyond conventional rules. The separation between driver and passenger cells aligned the wheelbase with the cabins and enabled a new interaction between underbody and bodywork: a central channel transformed the body into a wing, maximising ground effect. Airflows split at the front and rejoined at the rear, where a second wing sat across the two tails to increase the efficiency of the diffuser.

Side language and optimization

The flanks featured vertical cuts reminiscent of the F80, signalling how the technical-stylistic language introduced by the new supercar was destined to influence production models. This language appeared in the contrast between taut, technical wing lines and a sculptural body, further refined by mathematical optimisation governed by generative algorithms.

Livery, thermal integration, and structure

In the central area of the fuselages, a three-dimensional livery with lateral louvres highlighted a typical Ferrari design element. The tails integrated thermal functions directly into their structure thanks to topology optimisation, which generated complex geometries to channel cooling flows and maximise heat dissipation from internal mechanical components. The configuration also posed a structural design challenge, as it reshaped interior spaces and volumes with technologies that combined traditional functionality requirements and generatively produced geometries.

Rear architecture

The rear was defined by two vertical profiles expressing track width, while the upper wing acted as a lintel, framing the central channel as a conceptual “portal” to the new design language. Four iconic taillights were integrated into the wing and contributed to overall performance.

Front architecture and lighting

The front was dominated by a band suspended between the wings, taking the floating-splitter concept typical of the F80 to an extreme. Below, the fuselages descended toward the splitter to create ramps that emphasised the entrances to the central channel and the lateral ducts directing airflow over the wheels. Two pairs of retractable headlights, positioned laterally beneath the suspended band, linked the legacy of Ferrari’s 1970s–1980s pop-up lamps with the F76’s futuristic character.

Interior concept and driving interface

The interior prioritised a shared driving experience. Two separate cockpits, enabled by drive-by-wire technology, synchronised all driving components—from steering wheel to pedals—so that both occupants experienced sensations in real time, raising emotional and technical participation in the act of driving.

Personalisation and NFT execution

The F76 project offered clients an unprecedented personalisation experience. Each digital car was created from various design options released as exclusive drops over the three years of the Hyperclub programme. Through this platform, clients brought their own F76 to life and participated in an exclusive community where tradition and innovation met under the banner of passion.