[WEC] Porsche Prototype Discussion

[Spyderman]

I do know that the car is scheduled to take its first drive in June at the Wiessach track.

[Spyderman]

Also - Some interesting details:

When Enzinger started at Weissach in
November of 2011, fifteen staff members
were designated and two buildings were
in planning. Since then the number of personnel
is approaching the envisioned two
hundred. The team moved into the office
building in September 2012, and into the
workshop in November. In the intervening
period he had more people than space,
a problem he solved in typical Enzinger
form. “In the beginning we were spread out
in four different buildings,” he recalls. “But
that’s not the way to build a team. So we
worked for three months in an enormous
container. It was just a container, but at

least we were all in it together.” -
CHRISTOPHORUS

Enzinger came to Weissach with two major
goals: First, to set up a structure that facilitates
the highest level of racing, and second,
to have Porsche win the 24 Hours of Le
Mans as soon as possible. The structure is

now in place. - CHRISTOPHORUS


Note that it does not say 2014.

[Pandamasque]

He's quite impatient isn't he?

[Spyderman]

He and his bosses.

[vincegail]

Good to hear the 'win the 24 hours of Le Mans as soon as possible' bit.

[The Badger]

Wouldn't expect anything else , would you ?

[vincegail]

No. I don't think Porsche will follow the 'it takes 3 years to win Le Mans' rule. (is that still a rule?) and will come out full guns blazing.

But good to hear it nonetheless.

[Thaw Daggerslash]

I doubt they will win it in their first year back (but then again, you can't discount anything at Le Mans...) but they will be contenders. Wouldn't expect anything less from Porsche.

I just hope the bosses don't get TOO impatient. We see that far too often with manufacturers in all forms of racing.

[Spyderman]

Yes, the issue though is that Management sees expensive racing projects (like LMP1) as a means to an end. I suspect that going back to Le Mans and winning (in LMP1) has a specific marketing objective (i.e Hybrid). If that is not met in the allotted time frame, then the business model for this program may fall apart and another way will have to be found to attain the desired objective.

There is also another possibility; that Porsche want to get the 17th win under their belt before moving on to F1 (oh horror!). My whole body shakes in revulsion at the very thought of this, but unfortunately VAG politics may play an important role in this decision.

I know that Porsche has come out and clearly stated that F1 is not relevant to their road going car development, but ........if the business model is correct and the VAG politics rears its ugly head (and it will) , I just don't see them resisting the temptation.

The GTE program has a different business model and is able to sustain itself (selling cars to clients), so I would hazard a bet that we will see a GTE program in place long after the ashes of the LMP1 program have been swept from the pristine Weissach floors.

[Dario911]

I don't think Porsche may leave endurance and Le Mans to move in F1. They're investing so much in this project, it would be fool to leave it soon, as if they'll win, as if they'll not win. Porsche will do what Audi has done in all these years. Formula 1 has never been in Porsche interest, and WEC is gaining popularity. LMP1 cannot be only three years long, due to all its implications. When Renault came in Le Mans, it was to test turbo technology before to approach Formula 1. But it was a complete debut for Renault, as in Le Mans, as well in Formula 1.
Porsche is strictly linked to Le Mans, and would be a non-sense to leave it approaching to Formula 1.
Surely, Porsche will try to not respect the "three years rule", aiming to win Le Mans since its first year. It's not Audi, Peugeot or Toyota.
Porsche is Porsche.

[Spyderman]

Dario - I sincerely hope you are correct. I would like nothing better. However, times have changed....and they will change again. Remember that there is nothing more constant than change. What was true in the past, may not continue to be true in the present/future. 25 years ago, who would have thought Porsche would be building SUV's and limousines? I'm not saying that they will go to F1: But NOTHING surprises me any longer.

[Dario911]

Good point, as usual. But Porsche needs to win, and best field to do this, is Le Mans. They're very well experienced there, as well as in endurance races.
Formula 1 would be a new battlefield for Porsche, and to win, they need longer time. No doubt about their potential, I'm sure Porsche may win in F1 too, but... how many time should they have to wait for?
They need to win, they need a resonant victory. They need it all now.
Le Mans is the answer.

O.T.
I've heard VAG is considering a Lamborghini involvement in competitions. No class or category has been specified yet, but they're considering to employ the Raging Bull in races. Good news, I love Lamborghini!

[rich07]

Lamborghini are already in GT3 and this year theyve formed stronger ties with Reiter and brought more of the GT Lamborghini racing under their own roof with the FL2 for GT3 this year. Would be nice to see a serious effort in GTE but Im just happy to see them in GT3, beautiful cars they are.

[Coach Ep]

Last time Porsche was involved in F1 with Footwork in the early 90´s was a horrible embarrassment. No need to add another black page to the wonderful book...

[Spyderman]

Footwork was their last F1 project , but the one right before that (McLaren) was very successful. Either way, Sportscar racing is the true home of Porsche.

[Dario911]

Originally Posted by Spyderman

Footwork was their last F1 project , but the one right before that (McLaren) was very successful. Either way, Sportscar racing is the true home of Porsche.

That's why they are focused on Le Mans, instead of Formula 1.
However Footwark was not a Porsche project, Porsche only supplied engine. Then, in that period Porsche was about to fail, and had not enough funds to manage a so challenging project. When Porsche was involved with McLaren, it was in better economic conditions, and the engine was the best of the lot.
In the period of the Footwork failure, Porsche was under a deep reorganization, and was fighting to avoid its closure.

[Spyderman]

It also helped that TAG financed the Porsche engine for McLaren.

[Dario911]

Originally Posted by Spyderman

It also helped that TAG financed the Porsche engine for McLaren.

Yes. Five millions dollars. The TAG-Porsche V6 engine was tested on a 956 Group C.

[Spyderman]

How times have changed!

[Dario911]

Originally Posted by Spyderman

How times have changed!

Good times!

[deggis]

Billboards at LM:







http://www.endurance-info.com/versio...tml?grp=33&y=0

[Spyderman]

Brilliant! Thanks for posting.

[Breitling24]

Originally Posted by Spyderman

Brilliant! Thanks for posting.

+1

[porman]

A bit large for my garage. Oh well, we know Porsche is good at marketing.

Both Porsche and the press/fans (yours included) have made a big deal of their return. The inevitable result of which is high expectations. Porsche had better be careful so as to not shoot themselves in the foot.

[jim199]

FIRST PICS OF THE LMP1!
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...5227667&type=3
EDIT: Links for people who dont have facebook.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.n...89490957_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.n...25804965_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.n...03368203_n.jpg