New Porsche LMP1 Sports Prototype Starts Testing International Circuits

Germany, the Porsche LMP1 sports prototype race car – which has been completely redesigned – is working its way through a series of functional tests.

In the most recent test drives, Neel Jani (Switzerland) took the wheel for the very first time. The former Grand Prix test driver has been part of the pool of regular LMP1 drivers since 1 Jul this year, and supports Timo Bernhard (Germany) and Romain Dumas (France) with the testing duties. The fourth driver is Australian Grand Prix ace Mark Webber, who will bolster the Porsche LMP1 team from 2014.

Next year, the Porsche LMP1 (Le Mans Prototype 1) racing car will line up on the starting grid in the World Endurance Championship (WEC), and at the renowned 24 Hours of Le Mans.

“The current test drives are enabling us to collect huge amounts of vital data; every single kilometre driven is important. However, in order to develop the highly complex LMP1 racing car so that it is fit to compete by the start of next year’s season, many more kilometres of testing are required,” said Fritz Enzinger, vice president of the LMP1 programme. “We are pleased with the progress being made with each test.”

A new set of rules apply to the WEC for 2014 which are clearly focused on efficiency, and require the use of the latest hybrid drive technology. The aim of the new rules is to significantly reduce fuel consumption of the participating race cars. The new Porsche LMP1 therefore needs to balance optimum efficiency while delivering maximum performance. The same, of course, applies to the development of Porsche road cars. By following motorsport’s lead, the development of each and every future Porsche vehicle can also benefit from these development breakthroughs.