A lot of people were wondering what kind of powertrain will Porsche use in its LMP1 race car for the 2014 World Endurance Championship. There were rumors about a diesel engine, but that would have been a too direct threat to Audi, the other VW Group brand involved in the sports car endurance series.
The mystery has been solved now, as Porsche revealed that the prototype features a “very efficient, high-performance hybrid drive” consisting of a four-cylinder petrol engine with direct injection and two energy recuperation systems. The recovered energy is stored in a battery until retrieved by the driver, with a powerful electric motor providing additional drive to the front axle.
Porsche says the development of its “highly-efficient drive” will influence the development of similar systems for its road cars.
The factory team ended its 2013 test program with the new LMP1 racecar on the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve near Portimão, Portugal, with former F1 driver Mark Webber driving the car for the first time ahead of early 2014 tests. Red Bull Racing let the Australian drive the Porsche LMP1 racer, despite Webber still being under contract.
“My first day in this fascinating project was an intense experience for me. I would like to thank Red Bull Racing for giving me the chance to join the project so early. This is a major and important step for us all. It allows me to integrate with the team quicker and to contribute to further developing the LMP1 race car. We have a long way to go and it involves a lot of hard work. I have no misconceptions about this,” said Webber, who will officially join the Porsche factory team from January 1, 2014.
By Dan Mihalascu
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