[WEC] Porsche GTP / Hypercar: factory and customer

[Spyderman]

I suspect you are correct.

[chernaudi]

And it'll most likely be a tall order for Porsche to get there unless they have something up their sleeves. Toyota, even with their hybrid expertise, couldn't manage it without risking an overweight car.

The V4 might help, but I'd be leery on placing so much emphasis on hybrid tech to help them. The ERS-H has caused issues for F1 teams, and Audi said it gave them little incentive during testing to risk using it.

Also, Toyota can only boost their hybrid systems for only 17 seconds a lap around Le Mans, and once that's been exhausted, they spend the entire lap on what the ICE will do, whatever that turns out to be. Porsche will be in much the same boat, and I don't think that the V4 will be able right now to match the Toyota NA 3.7 liter V8, let alone the Audi 4.0 liter V6 TDI engine.

[Spyderman]

I suspect you are correct too. Furthermore, I suspect that this year will have to be put down to "Lessons Learned" .

[MyNameIsNigel]

Originally Posted by chernaudi

Also, Toyota can only boost their hybrid systems for only 17 seconds a lap around Le Mans, and once that's been exhausted, they spend the entire lap on what the ICE will do, whatever that turns out to be.

Could be more if Toyota opt to release energy exclusively via e.g. the MGU on the front axle.

[porman]

Originally Posted by arakis

I'm guessing their tiny v4 was chosen with 8MJ in mind from the beginning. I think they have no other choice...

My thought too. It may work at Le Mans, but elsewhere I see this as too much of a compromise. It wouldn't surprise me to see a larger engine come 2015.

[porman]

Originally Posted by chernaudi

And it'll most likely be a tall order for Porsche to get there unless they have something up their sleeves. Toyota, even with their hybrid expertise, couldn't manage it without risking an overweight car.

The V4 might help, but I'd be leery on placing so much emphasis on hybrid tech to help them. The ERS-H has caused issues for F1 teams, and Audi said it gave them little incentive during testing to risk using it.

Also, Toyota can only boost their hybrid systems for only 17 seconds a lap around Le Mans, and once that's been exhausted, they spend the entire lap on what the ICE will do, whatever that turns out to be. Porsche will be in much the same boat, and I don't think that the V4 will be able right now to match the Toyota NA 3.7 liter V8, let alone the Audi 4.0 liter V6 TDI engine.

You make some good points. I think this year has already placed a rather large learning-curve for Porsche. There isn't much in the way of continuity within and it would seem that they are going in far too many directions.
I would love to have a candid conversation with Singer to get his take on what is happening. Not that that will ever happen!

[MyNameIsNigel]

Is there any confirmation from Porsche regarding the ERS class in which they will be competing ?

[gwyllion]

No, only that they are aiming for 8 MJ.

Originally Posted by @RacecarEd

Porsche says that it is still aiming for 8MJ. It will be the only one in that category if it manages to do so...

source: https://twitter.com/RacecarEd/status/449139810410983424

And that the final choice has not been made.

Interestingly, with Audi’s confirmation that it will run with only one hybrid system in 2014, only Porsche and Toyota will be in a position to go for the full 8MJ release rate at Le Mans. However, Porsche says that it will wait until endurance testing is complete before it decides on which category in which it will run.

source: http://www.racecar-engineering.com/cars/porsche-919/

[GTfour]

Knowing now that Toyota will go for the 6MJ option...

[chernaudi]

And doesn't Porsche have to make it known pretty quick what their intent is with the ACO and FIA? I thought that they had to homologate their hybrid system before the WEC test this weekend? If not, they still don't have much time or else the ACO and FIA will have to tell them that they're stuck with what they've got now.

[Spyderman]

I really don't think they have a choice; they only have half an engine!

[gwyllion]

The roof air intake of the Porsche 919 is tiny compared to its competitors.


source: http://www.motorsport.com/wec/photos...allery/?r=7918

Maybe another indication that Porsche is going for the 8 MJ ERS option.

[PorscheFanNo1]

Such a shame the liveries on the Porsche and Audi are that similar, why couldnt Audi just stick with the black testing livery?

[gwyllion]

Maybe the closed cars need the white paint, to keep the cockpit temperatures down

Historically, the German racing colors are silver or white.

[gwyllion]

Paul Ricard WEC test: Porsche on the pace right behind Audi (autosport.com)

Jani said: "We were just running normally, going through our programme, so we didn't go for it.

"We are still working on the mechanical and aero balance, finding out what makes the car work.

"Still, it's good that we were P1 for a long time; at the moment it doesn't look too bad for us."

Gary Watkins rightfully points out that it is much too early to draw any conclusions.

Drawing conclusions from the test was difficult because the FIA and the Automobile Club de l'Ouest, which jointly write the regulations, have yet to reveal what fuel allocation per lap they are allowing the new LMP1 cars at Ricard.

Organisers are using the test as the final stage of analysis of the fuel figures in the new energy-based formula, prior to setting down the allocations for the first three rounds of the 2014 WEC up to and including the Le Mans 24 Hours.

[airbusA346]

Porsche have decided to enter 6MJ class.

http://www.motorsport-total.com/wec/...-14032803.html

[Spyderman]

Hats off to these guys!

[gwyllion]

Porsche is now running the same aero solution behind the front wheels on both cars.

[gwyllion]

According to http://www.motorsport-total.com/wec/...-14032810.html the #14 car has some issues with the hybrid system on the front axle in the morning.

[Spyderman]

Still....It's quite impressive what they have managed with half an engine.

[Spyderman]

New Porsche video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQ2qznsYSmg

[Gingers4Justice]

Originally Posted by Spyderman

New Porsche video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQ2qznsYSmg

Love that engine note! Sounds really raspy.

[gwyllion]

New drawings by Antonio Pannullo

[gwyllion]

Interview with Webber about his transition to endurance racing (sharing car, traffic, night driving, ...): http://www.motorsport-total.com/wec/...-14032804.html

[oliver88]

Porsche top of the time sheets in testing at Paul Ricard...http://www.autosport.com/news/report...ce=mostpopular