Porsche is returning to the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2014 with a new LMP1 sports prototype that’s widely believed to be an endurance race-prepped version of the upcoming 918 halo car – already hinted by the 918 RSR concept shown as early as 2011.
What better way to look at the future than with a glimpse of the past, particularly at the Porsche 917 in 1971, arguably the greatest Le Mans racer of all time. What made it so significant? Because it was so ground breaking that it broke records too.
Its magnesium tube frame construction was by far the lightest of its kind and time at just 42 kg, allowing Jackie Oliver to lap the Circuit de la Sarthe with an average of 250 km/h, a record that stands to this day.
In the race, victors Helmut Marko (yes, Vettel’s guardian devil Dr Marko) and Gijs van Lennep covered 5,335.3 km while averaging 222.304 km/h (including lengthy pit stops) – a remarkable record that stood for 39 years until Audi’s R15 Plus broke it in spectacular fashion in 2010.
The clip ended with “Mission 2014. Our Return.” Simple words, a tough ask.
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They will probably announce more details in June this year. Would likely be a brand new race car, not based on the 918 or any model intended for production. They are building an LMP1 machine so think Audi R18 type machine. Totally bespoke.
The bigger question is what will the group intend to do with Audi’s Le Mans programme? Retire it? Relegate to customers teams? Or dare I say it.. race each other using different technologies. Audi for diesel. Porsche for petrol. Very risky for the group to pit 2 of their own brands against each other. 2014 LMP1 rules is all about energy efficiency so the loser will be seen as inferior in terms of energy efficiency. Personally I WANT to see these 2 brands fight each other. More fun.
Nope, they ain’t gotta send Audi back into retirement home. The fight is on and Nissan is jumping into P1 ship next year as well.