[WEC] Porsche Prototype Discussion

[FxL]

A short video by Porsche which captures the mood to some degree

[Articus]

Does anyone know why this car was sparking on the undertray skid blocks all race long?

[MoMedic9019]

Originally Posted by Articus

Does anyone know why this car was sparking on the undertray skid blocks all race long?

Suspension..

In all reality, who cares, it was seriously awesome!

[dbagtbag]

Originally Posted by gustavobamba

You are absolutely right, Le Mans is pure magic.

But even with the most reliable car other thinks could happen… beware the mighty FERRARI menace

Toyota and Audi already sufer from that thread

Oh yeah, this is why we love Le Mans so much.

Btw did anything come of the anticipated announcement of a new LMP1 manu? I thought it was supposed to be saturday but I haven't heard anything.

[Articus]

Originally Posted by MoMedic9019

Suspension..

In all reality, who cares, it was seriously awesome!

Well not like that. The car was sparking in practice, and throughout qualy. At that point I was telling myself there is no way they will let it run like that during the race. Low and behold it did. I just want to know why. If they were running the car that close to the ground it would have been big trouble on the exit of tertre rouge and the ford and dunlop chicanes. I know they have some sort of trick damper system. Wondering if there is more to it like some sort of ride height control.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Articus

Does anyone know why this car was sparking on the undertray skid blocks all race long?

Webber's put on weight? He's no longer on his exclusive Red Bull diet and so his rapid weight gain knackered the supension, which would explain the sparking and why he was so slow.

[jimclark]

Originally Posted by MoMedic9019

Suspension..

In all reality, who cares, it was seriously awesome!

Intelligent reply.

Articus and I, amongst many others, I'm sure.

[jimclark]

Originally Posted by Articus

Wondering if there is more to it like some sort of ride height control.

'Pretty dang sure active suspension is still not allowed these days.
If it were, I'm sure everyone would be using it.

[Articus]

Originally Posted by jimclark

'Pretty dang sure active suspension is still not allowed these days.

Your right active suspension is banned.

. Maybe it's nothing. It's just extremely odd to me that they would let the car bottom out on the straights for 340 odd laps if reliability was there aim. There must have been some benefit to this behavior of the car. What that was, I don't know.

[Spyderman]

What I took away form this race:
Positives
1. Car relatively quick in qualifying.
2. Blistering quick in sector 2
3. Team seemed very well organized (not surprising)
4. There seems to be a real camaraderie within the team
5. Strong desire to do well. (not surprising)

Negatives
1. Car slow in sector 2 and 3
2. Not as good as the competition in the twisty bits. (very unusual for Porsche – think RS Spyder)
3. Does small (less powerful) engine force them to have a low-down-force set-up thus compromising handling?
4. Race pace is at least 3-4 seconds off where it should be.
5. Suspension does not seem to be sorted/developed to its full potential (or is the concept wrong?)
6. Continuous drive train issues
7. Tire management is not as good as the competition (fruit of suspension and aero).

[Articus]

Slightly off topic here but The RS spyder wasn't as good as the Acura Arx-01b in the twisty bits . There's a neat little story about how the Acura's working with Michelin produced a car and tire that could do turn 1 at Sebring flat out in 2008 . The RS Spyder was quicker in a straightline though. I only bring it up because I have really fond memories of that era.

All fair points. I take particular interest in #5. They definitely have some sort of clever suspension in there.

[FstrthnU]

As it turns out, the reason the #20 was slow and eventually stopped was a broken rear anti-roll bar

[Spyderman]

If that was the case, surely that could have been changed.

[templer]

For me Porsche did a really good job at their comeback and I think really not a lot People have expected them running so long in a straight forward position.
Also their brand-new crew worked well together in their first 24 hours race.

As mentioned the car has a really interesting kind of self-level suspension system there the corners are linked together via a hydraulic system.
Despite this it was clearly the most nervous car on track.
What we don't know if the bouncing front was a suspension problem or a aero problem. I tend to the later as it arised at about 270 kph and beyond. Seems like the " good old" porpoising feature there the front diffusor moves downwards under higher aero loads, stalls and lost it's downforce, move upwards until the aero forces come back and it's moves down and so on. The frequency and the speed the phenomen occured speaks for porpoising.
Though I am surprised as the higher center section of the front soplitter should prevent it.
Here we need an expert.

But I am pretty sure Porsche will analyze the race closely and come back next year with a new and much better car.

And now I am looking forward to see the high downforce package which should be launched at Austin.

[TF110]

I bet theyll be testing in the near future if theyre running a high downforce car at Austin.

[airbusA346]

Originally Posted by FstrthnU

As it turns out, the reason the #20 was slow and eventually stopped was a broken rear anti-roll bar

It was powertrain failure which stopped #20 (came back on hybrid power), and gearbox failure for #14.

And I looked at the classifications again this morning and #14 is now classified. 11th overall, 5th in class.

[Spyderman]

Originally Posted by templer

And now I am looking forward to see the high downforce package which should be launched at Austin.

Are you sure that there will indeed be a high down-force package? I am not yet convinced.

[Bandicoot17]

Originally Posted by Spyderman

Are you sure that there will indeed be a high down-force package? I am not yet convinced.

I think they must. They have a long break and coupled with the fact that they are no longer prepping for LM means low downforce will provide them no gains. Next year's car will be more advanced and I doubt it will run this year's aero.

If they don't it suggests that Porsche aren't taking anything other than LM seriously (a mistake) , or that they have a budgetary or personnel issue. They will also be destroyed at the true HDF tracks that are on the calendar.

[Chemistry88]

Porsche were brilliant, especially in their first outing at Le Mans in over 10+ years. I think it's shows Audi's experience at running Le Mans year after year is beneficial. Nonetheless, no one expected Porsche to even be in contention, let alone challenge for the victory. I think Porsche will be the team to beat next year, just a hunch after their successful but somewhat heartbreaking end to the race.

Time to Knock Audi off their Perch.

[templer]

Originally Posted by Spyderman

Are you sure that there will indeed be a high down-force package? I am not yet convinced.

Fritz Enzinger mentioned this in one of his early season interviews. He said they will do all races before LM with the low-downforce package and a high downforce package will be ready for Austin

[Spyderman]

Originally Posted by templer

Fritz Enzinger mentioned this in one of his early season interviews. He said they will do all races before LM with the low-downforce package and a high downforce package will be ready for Austin

Ha! Good! - Now we will be able to see if tyre ware improves or if it is a suspension issue.

Also - Still many jobs open for the LMP1 project. Head of Suspension and hydraulics engineers among many. Interestingly there is an engine designer position. New engine?

[carbon_titanium]

Honestly I think that porsche main efforts are for the 2015 919, at austin surely we will see an HD package like the one used by toyota last year from interlagos. Basicly the same low drag package with some HD updates here and there.

[PorscheFanNo1]

Originally Posted by FstrthnU

As it turns out, the reason the #20 was slow and eventually stopped was a broken rear anti-roll bar

Thats the reason it was slow, yes, but not the reason why it stopped

[Spyderman]

http://www.motorsport.com/lemans/new...-dream-ending/

[Richard C]

I think Porsche did very well. I am an optimist, so my glass is 3/4 full. Congratulations to the team and I look forward to next year!

A few points…

• First year back after having been gone for so long
• Totally new regulations, so the potential for “getting it wrong” was large
• Strong competition makes it harder
• They seem to be doing this completely in-house with a generally built from scratch team. Building for the future!
• While it didn’t get Pole it was in the running to do so.
• While it had reliability issues, so did everyone else.
• Generally clean running by the #20 and #14 (i.e. not crashing out)
• To have survived and to be able to lead the race very late, even if briefly, should speak volumes.
• If it was easy, everyone would be doing it.

I am sure they are likely deep in the design of the 2015 car. It will be interesting to see what concepts caries over from 2014 to 2015.

I am hopeful that I can make it to the COTA race.

Richard