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Originally Posted by chernaudi
Marshall Pruett was just on Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain, and here's the major points in that interview:
1-Porsche seem to have an idea what the proposed 2014 rules may be, and it seems to be slanted towards cars that are slightly slower and notably cheaper than the current likes of the Audi R18 and Peugeot 908.
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This is not so hard to figure out as the ACO have stressed the need to keep times above the 3:30/lap time range.
The "cheaper" part is a general consensus that everyone talks about, but then hardly ever gets implemented. Hybrids are not cheap to run at the moment. Lets see in a couple of years time.
Quote:
Originally Posted by chernaudi
2-To add to that, it'll likely be a heavily customer based program, due to Porsche's history of selling cars to semi works and private teams.
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I'm not sure that this will be the case initially. Much will depend on the costs and the level of technical expertise required to run the Hybrids. I suspect that the program will resemble the first years of the RS Spyder program...at least at first.
Quote:
Originally Posted by chernaudi
3-As has been mentioned, Audi and the rest of VAG had no direct part in the program, at least thus far. Audi and VAG also didn't have any direct part in the start of this intended program. Also, Audi may or may not collaborate with Porsche in any way for this program.
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The Porsche Supervisory Board (that I assume approved such a project) have the following members:
Dr. Wolfgang Porsche -Chairman
Uwe Hück- Deputy
Prof. Dr. Ferdinand K. Piëch
Dr. Ferdinand Oliver Porsche, Hans-Peter Porsche, and Dr. Hans Michel Piëch
New Members of the Board are Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG and the Chairman of the Board of Management of Porsche Automobil Holding SE, Hans Dieter Pötsch, Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG and Member of the Board of Management of Porsche Automobil Holding SE, Dr. Francisco Javier Garcia Sanz, Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG, Christian Klingler, Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG, and Prof. Dr. Horst Neumann, Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG.
Quote:
Originally Posted by chernaudi
And 4-It'll likely be a hybrid. With Porsche working on the hybrid technology, rumors that Peugeot's 908 successor may be a hybrid electric with a gasoline engine, and with the Audi R18 and Peugeot 908 being diesel electric hybrids starting at season's end, and with the success that the 911 GT3 Hybrid has had, there's no reason to see why Porsche can't or won't run a hybrid.
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I would go so far as to say that it will most certainly be a hybrid. No if's, and's or but's.
Quote:
Originally Posted by chernaudi
Basically, Porsche's desire to sell customer cars, make the racing a bit more affordable, and the green racing push have combined to make Porsche pull the trigger on getting their letter of intent out there, though Le Mans 2014 is three years away, and who knows what'll happen within that time frame.
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Indeed , much water can flow under the bridge. It will be a shame if they have the car built and ready for testing, and then the project gets cancelled to to extenuating circumstances.