This is the Porsche 919 Hybrid which will be entered in the LMP1 class at the 2014 24 Hours of Le Mans and the World Endurance Championship
Porsche has released full details of the new 919 race car. Designed for efficiency as much as speed the 919 will race in the Le Mans 24 Hours as well as in all rounds of the WEC.
The engine is a petrol powered 2-litre, V4 with a single turbocharger which can rev to 9,000rpm. Two energy recovery systems drive the electric motors. Thermal energy from the exhaust gases drive an electric generator via the rear wheels.
A second system works on the front axle collecting and storing electricity from kinetic energy under braking which charges a lithium-ion battery. This is stored and used when the driver presses a boost button and powers the front wheels, making the 919 a part time four wheel drive car.
The Porsche 919 weighs 870kg. It can first be seen in action at Silverstone on 20 April. The 24 Hours of Le Mans takes place over 14 and 15 June.
By Matt Hubbard
