Antonio Fuoco gave Ferrari’s 499P a fitting final qualifying achievement on Saturday by taking pole for the FIA World Endurance Championship’s 6 Hours of Monza. The result bookends the car’s WEC campaign: Fuoco also secured its first pole at its race debut in the 2023 1000 Miles of Sebring.

Fuoco narrowly defeated Mathieu Jaminet’s Genesis in Hyperpole, putting the Italian manufacturer at the front for its home race and the final appearance of the 499P before Ferrari introduces an overhaul of its LMH-based car for 2027. The race begins Sunday at 11 a.m. Central European Time.

A fitting final pole for the Ferrari 499P

Ferrari’s 499P has become one of the defining cars of the modern Hypercar era. Its first WEC pole came in Sebring, and its final one arrives at Monza, a circuit closely tied to the company’s endurance history. The latest result is also Ferrari’s fourth consecutive pole in Italy and the car’s 11th overall.

“Everyone wants to do a proper goodbye for this car because I think it’s been really nice,” Fuoco said after qualifying, according to Sportscar365. “Being on pole here for the last race for the 499P is really special.”

The 499P’s name refers to the approximate 499cc displacement of each cylinder in its twin-turbocharged V6 engine. Ferrari has not yet confirmed the name of its 2027 replacement, although an overhaul of the LMH-based car is expected and could bring an altered or new model name as Ferrari approaches its 80th anniversary.

Ferrari’s return to the top class at Monza carries historical weight beyond the current program. The company won the circuit’s major endurance races during the 1960s and early 1970s, including victories for the 330 P3, 330 P4 and 312 PB. The current 5.793-kilometre circuit has hosted the WEC’s six-hour race since 2021, reviving a long-running Italian endurance tradition at the “Temple of Speed.”

Strong qualifying for Peugeot and Genesis

Genesis came close to taking its second consecutive pole after Jaminet’s strong run, while Peugeot also emerged from qualifying with encouragement. Theo Pourchaire placed fifth in Hyperpole, less than three-tenths of a second from Fuoco, and both Peugeot 9X8s reached the final qualifying session.

Pourchaire, in his final expected weekend with Peugeot in the WEC, felt the car had the potential to challenge even more strongly. Small errors on his fastest lap cost time, but the result still represented a competitive showing for a Peugeot operation that has been working to extract more performance from its Hypercar package.

Not every leading entry enjoyed a clean session. Kamui Kobayashi’s No. 7 Toyota TR010 Hybrid failed to reach Hyperpole and will receive a three-place grid penalty for impeding Harry Tincknell’s Aston Martin Valkyrie. Tincknell’s Aston Martin will also drop one position after an impeding incident involving the No. 94 Peugeot.

The penalties underline one of Monza’s recurring qualifying challenges. The circuit’s long straights produce large gains from a tow, but the speed differential between cars on preparation laps and those on qualifying runs can make traffic management particularly difficult.

Lexus claims LMGT3 pole as title battle narrows

The Lexus RC F GT3, expected to end its international program after Sunday’s race, secured LMGT3 pole through Hadrien David. It was the Lexus’s fourth WEC class pole and its second of the season.

Behind the Lexus, Jonny Edgar qualified second in the championship-leading No. 33 TF Sport Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R. The result strengthened Corvette’s position in the LMGT3 title fight after the No. 69 Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 EVO failed to reach Hyperpole.

That qualifying setback dashed Team WRT’s hopes of taking the title with Anthony McIntosh. The BMW had needed an exceptionally strong weekend, while the Corvette’s second-place start gives Edgar’s crew a useful platform for the six-hour contest. Edgar nevertheless emphasized that race pace matters more than qualifying position in LMGT3.

McIntosh’s session was further damaged by repeated track-limits violations that deleted most of his laps. Heart of Racing’s Eduardo Barrichello suffered a similar disappointment: his best lap would have placed the No. 23 Aston Martin on class pole, but it was removed for exceeding track limits, leaving the car fourth on the grid.

Driver and manufacturer plans take shape for 2027

Saturday’s paddock discussions also offered an early view of the next WEC season. Alpine sporting director Nico Lapierre ruled out a customer version of the A424 under Alpine branding, while Signatech team principal Philippe Sinault said negotiations with another manufacturer remain open ahead of the November 23 entry deadline.

Toyota technical director David Floury declined to confirm whether the manufacturer will use additional Evo jokers on its TR010 Hybrid. Such changes require approval from the FIA and Automobile Club de l’Ouest, meaning Toyota’s available development allowance cannot automatically be treated as guaranteed performance upgrades.

Toyota has confirmed a replacement for retiring driver Mike Conway. Kevin Estre is widely expected to fill that seat, potentially creating an unusual full-season program spanning the WEC and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with different manufacturers.

Heart of Racing principal Ian James also indicated that the team is evaluating how its drivers could compete in both championships now that the calendars contain no direct date clashes. The team expects to retain its WEC and IMSA structures, while James said he will probably continue racing in one of its Aston Martin LMGT3 cars.

A busy weekend beyond the WEC grid

Monza’s Saturday program also included the Legends of Le Mans races. The opening event was abandoned after 26 minutes following a major accident involving a Pescarolo and a Lola prototype. Both drivers appeared to escape their cars under their own power, while Kirton Lendoudis was classified as the winner in a 2008 Peugeot 908 HDi FAP.

Christian Albrecht won the second race in a Lola-Aston Martin. The field included former LMP1 and LMP2 machinery, as well as GT cars, offering a reminder of the circuit’s broad endurance-racing heritage.

For Ferrari, however, Sunday’s six-hour race is the central event. Pole gives the 499P an ideal farewell opportunity, but Monza’s high-speed layout, traffic and changing weather can quickly turn qualifying advantage into a strategic challenge. The car’s final WEC chapter will begin from the best possible position, with Ferrari seeking to convert a symbolic pole into a decisive home victory.

Sources: Sportscar365; Endurance Info.