Mark Webber gets his hands on the Porsche LMP1

Porsche concluded its 2013 test programme with the new LMP1 race car. The Porsche LMP1 completed its final test laps of the year on the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve near Portimão, Portugal. Porsche AG will field two LMP1 race cars in the sports car World Endurance Championship (WEC) which starts in April 2014, with the Le Mans 24 Hours as the highlight of the season.

The all-new LMP1 race car features a high performance hybrid powertrain that consists of a four-cylinder petrol engine with direct injection and two energy recuperation systems. A powerful electric motor then provides additional drive to the front axle. 

Ex-Red Bull F1 racer, Mark Webber, got behind the wheel of the LMP1 at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve. Still under the Red Bull Racing contract, the Red Bull Racing Formula 1 team gave the Australian the green light to conduct these initial tests. But come January 2014, Webber officially joins the Porsche factory team as a works driver and reinforces the already-signed driver line-up of Timo Bernhard (32), Romain Dumas (35) and Neel Jani (30). 

Webber commented, “My first day in this fascinating project was an intense experience for me. It allows me to integrate with the team quicker and to contribute to further developing the LMP1 race car. We have a long way to go and it involves a lot of hard work. I have no misconceptions about this.” 

On the schedule of the final test for 2013 in Portugal were primarily suspension and tyre tests with partner Michelin. 

Wolfgang Hatz, Member of the Executive Board for Research and Development at Porsche AG, added, “We always knew it wasn’t going to be easy to return to top endurance racing after 16 years. Hence, our efforts in developing a competitive Porsche LMP1 race car are immense. We are finding new approaches in the development, implementation and application of leading edge efficiency technologies. This also leads to further improvements of the entire hybrid technology in our production cars. Ultimately, our customers will benefit the most.”