[WEC] Porsche Prototype Discussion

[Bandicoot17]

Depends which person they had as head of aero before really. This can only be a positive for Porsche though really.

[CyberMotor]

Originally Posted by chernaudi

Of course, the Audi R15 resulted from a car that was sort of designed by committee, and aside from Sebring '09, suffered from all kinds of problems, mostly related to bodywork and resultant packaging.

When I first saw the R15 up close, I was surprised. It seemed to be an experiment in progress. The pieces seemed to be pop-riveted together rather than the exceptional finished look of the Audi's.

The side pods of the R15 are still some of my favorites. I think Audi learned a lot with the R15 and the knowledge carried over into the R18.

[JoestForEver]

Surely people from Lotus aero can teach us all something about saving tire wear

[The Badger]

Im not sure I like the sound of this . Either it means there has been a power shift in the Porsche aero ranks , or Porsche realized (too late) that there is too much work for only one man to accomplish .

Either way , I don't think its great news .

[Spyderman]

Originally Posted by The Badger

Im not sure I like the sound of this . Either it means there has been a power shift in the Porsche aero ranks , or Porsche realized (too late) that there is too much work for only one man to accomplish .

Either way , I don't think its great news .

Yes, I share the same concerns.

[CTD]

Originally Posted by The Badger

Im not sure I like the sound of this . Either it means there has been a power shift in the Porsche aero ranks , or Porsche realized (too late) that there is too much work for only one man to accomplish .

Either way , I don't think its great news .

Originally Posted by Spyderman

Yes, I share the same concerns.

It could be to set up a team doing the high downforce package("Sprint"), while the original team continues with the development of the Le Mans aero.
So therefor not a bad development, just a wish to have the Sprint package ready quicker.

[Gingers4Justice]

Is there not a difference between recently announcing a new job, and starting a new job?

By which I mean, how do we know he hasn't been working for Porsche in a much less official capacity already?

[The Badger]

Or it could be the development team being set up separate to the race team . Thez have done that before ..... but its still late .

[wdave0]

Or it could be the current aero doesn't work and it has to by May.

[Bandicoot17]

Did Porsche not do something similar with the RS Spyder? Changing head of Aero before the races debut.

If Michael Pfadenhauer (He become head of aero on the RS) was still head of Aero before the hiring, he has now become the "General Manager Aerodynamics and Thermal management at Porsche AG" so that might indicate a slight reshuffling of positions, but nothing major like some are suggesting.


On the hiring time it seems he left Lotus at the end of December as indicated by a leaving present tweet, but has been tweeting about Porsche for some time. Take that as you will.

[deltawing]

Originally Posted by wdave0

Or it could be the current aero doesn't work and it has to by May.

you funny!

[wolfhound]

I would expect recruiting somebody with a good knowledge of F1 aerodynamics regardless of job title has to be of use to Porsche. They are after all starting a new program and will need to develop their car at a steady rate to compete. Outside of F1 there are very few racing car types that offer the oppertunity for aero development as so many race cars are now built to spec formula's.

[oliver88]

Sounds to me like they had an opportunity to snag some talent from the Lotus F1 team which are rumored to be hurting for $$…Porsche have been advertising for talent for quite awhile in Racecar Engineering…I think it's a positive development.

[Spyderman]

I have no doubt that José Gallego Segura will bring added value to the program. My concerns are centered on the possibility that the LMP1 program may not have up until now, been fully staffed (or correctly staffed). The late addition of such a high profile figure into a senior staffing position may indicate that the staffing was incomplete or structurally weak. Furthermore, it may indicate “issues” with the current design that may need to be corrected.
I know that Porsche Motorsport has taken on a task of mammoth proportions (largest in its history) with the LMP1, GTE and 918 programs. Staffing will almost always be an issue under such circumstances.

[Maelochs]

On the other hand Porsche has been going at this full-on for quite a while now, even building a new facility and setting up as new branch of the company. I'd be surprised if aero was the one place they decided to get cheap and wait until the last minute.

[Richard C]

Originally Posted by Spyderman

I have no doubt that José Gallego Segura will bring added value to the program. My concerns are centered on the possibility that the LMP1 program may not have up until now, been fully staffed (or correctly staffed). The late addition of such a high profile figure into a senior staffing position may indicate that the staffing was incomplete or structurally weak. Furthermore, it may indicate “issues” with the current design that may need to be corrected.
I know that Porsche Motorsport has taken on a task of mammoth proportions (largest in its history) with the LMP1, GTE and 918 programs. Staffing will almost always be an issue under such circumstances.

There really is no way to really know until they race. But so far nothing I see from Porsche indicating that they are not taking this challenge seriously. I also think that no matter how good your team is, it can always be better. This is an extreme example, but imagine if Adrian Newey said he was leaving F1 and said he wanted to play in the prototype sandbox. Every team, no matter how well staffed already, would be trying to get him.

Richard

[Starfish Primer]

This vid has been uploaded today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fa9Gkh-danM

Tests in Monza with a RS Spyder and look recent.

[Bandicoot17]

Maybe Porsche are going to surprise us all and turn up at Silverstone with RS Spyders......

[porman]

Nice to see the old girl in action again.
Baseline work?

[david5]

Getting new pilots used to a sportscar again ?

[cmk]

Originally Posted by Starfish Primer

This vid has been uploaded today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fa9Gkh-danM

Tests in Monza with a RS Spyder and look recent.

An awful lot of foliage on the trees to be northern Italy in January. Looks more like last fall to me.

Originally Posted by david5

Getting new pilots used to a sportscar again ?

It is Timo Bernhard at the wheel, so no.

[Breitling24]

Originally Posted by cmk

An awful lot of foliage on the trees to be northern Italy in January. Looks more like last fall to me.



It is Timo Bernhard at the wheel, so no.

Definately fall.

[Starfish Primer]

Thanks

In fall they were testing alongside with the LMP1. This guy is usually quick when uploading videos to his youtube channel, this is why I suspected that maybe were recent.

[tpa8580]

Is that the old Penske car?

[The Badger]

Yes , 1 of at least 3 ..... Its a test hack for Porsche .