Sport: Porsche chases lap records
SPORTWAGEN Porsche has withdrawn from the premier class of the World Endurance Championship (WEC). However, the successful 919 Hybrid model is set to cause another sensation in 2018. As part of a farewell tour, the absolute lap records will be set on race tracks visited. Neel Jani is enthusiastic after test drives with the car without power limitation. The Porsche LMP1 team has been taking care of the [...]
Since withdrawing from the WEC, the Porsche LMP1 team has been primarily concerned with the development of the Formula E racing car for the 2019 season. The Stuttgart-based team announced in December that a second area of responsibility would be the operational implementation of a farewell tour for the Porsche 919 Hybrid.
The three-time Le Mans-winning car will be used outside of the FIA WEC events and therefore also outside of the regulation of usable energy quantities at numerous individual events throughout the year. An exact program will be announced at the beginning of 2018. The era of the 919 Hybrid will actually come to an end at the end of 2018 with its last trip to the Porsche Museum.
As a tribute to the end of an era, Porsche has produced a short film for YouTube:
Chasing the absolute lap records
And what is behind this farewell tour? Porsche is planning to attack the absolute lap records on selected, traditional and also unusual race tracks.
A difficult undertaking and a major challenge for the entire team and its drivers, who have to realize the ambitious project with their steering work.
However, Neel Jani, who won Le Mans with Porsche in 2016 and clinched the drivers' world championship title, does not rule this out. After initial test drives, the Bernese driver is enthusiastic about the power delivery and potential of the "open" 919 Hybrid.
Regardless of parameters such as fuel flow rate, boost pressure and aerodynamics, the 919 is likely to develop an output of 1200 to 1500 hp. Porsche has not yet revealed any official performance data for its "open" hybrid prototype.
So it will be interesting to see when and where the Porsche works driver from Biel and his colleagues will take part in the planned record attempts. However, because lap records can only be achieved in races, this farewell tour will primarily serve as proof of Porsche's own performance - and for marketing purposes. Porsche will announce the exact program of events shortly.
Waiting for the new Rebellion LMP1
Neel Jani does not have to miss out on LMP1 racing despite Porsche's withdrawal: For Rebellion Racing, he will drive a newly developed but privately entered sports car (Oreca chassis, Gibson V8 engine with approx. 680 hp without hybrid).
His partners are André Lotterer (as in 2017 with Porsche) and Bruno Senna (2017 LMP2 World Champion with Rebellion). The team and car will be unveiled next week at the Geneva Motor Show.
