24 Hours of Le Mans
Porsche returns to Le Mans in 2014 *UPDATED*
© Planetlemans – Marcel ten Caat
Porsche returns to Le Mans with a works-run LMP1 sports prototype. The first outing of the completely new developed race car is planned for the year 2014. With 16 overall victories, Porsche is the most successful manufacturer in Le Mans. The most recent win was in 1998 with the Porsche 911 GT1.
“Motorsport was always an essential part of the Porsche brand,” emphasises Matthias Müller, President of the Executive Board at Porsche AG. “So for us it was only a matter of time before we returned as a factory to the top league of racing. Porsche’s successes in Le Mans are unrivalled. We want to follow up on this with the 17th outright victory.”
With the RS Spyder sports prototype that was run with great success from 2006 to 2008 by the factory-backed Penske Racing team in the USA and to 2010 by several customer teams worldwide, Porsche has set the benchmark recently in the LMP2 category. “With the RS Spyder we proved that our motorsport engineers in Weissach are at the forefront,” says Wolfgang Hatz, Board Member for Research and Development at Porsche AG. “For instance, we were the first to run a high-revving race engine with direct fuel injection, DFI, setting new standards in performance and efficiency. Recently, with the 911 GT3 R Hybrid, we adopted a completely new drive technology for racing purposes and achieved a considerable reduction in consumption.”
Hartmut Kristen, Head of Porsche Motorsport, is already prepared for one of the most challenging development programmes in the company’s history. “We’re looking forward to the task of developing new technologies and to continue on with the success of the Porsche RS Spyder. After the conclusion of our works-supported sports prototype programme in the American Le Mans Series we have kept up with the latest technological advances. Now we will begin with detailed research in order to evaluate the various concept alternatives for our new car. These obviously depend on how the regulations for the year 2014 look in detail. In principle, these regulations are interesting for us because the integration of our hybrid technology in the vehicle concept is one possible option.”
Hans Herrmann and Richard Attwood claimed the first overall victory for Porsche in 1970 with the legendary 917 short-tail. The 16th and by now last overall win was secured by Laurent Aiello, Stéphane Ortelli and Allan McNish in 1998 with the 911 GT1. In the years 2008 and 2009, the Porsche RS Spyder sports prototype won the title in the LMP2 category.
*UPDATE*
Audi Sport Statement on Porsche’s Le Mans return
“This is the decision of Porsche company, a decision in which Audi is not involved. Audi relishes the prospect of every strong new opponent at Le Mans and in the new FIA Sportscar World Championship. Porsche’s entry into the LMP1 class is evidence of the high level of attraction of sport prototypes”.
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Very nice, this will probably attracht more manufacturers. Who doesn’t want to beat porsche at “their” game. Trying is already an achievement imho
I literally just dropped my laptop with surprise!!
As an Aston fan I’m disappointed
As a race fan I’m thrilled
Speaking as an F1 fan, it is news like this that is slowly but surely drawing me towards sportscar racing and away from F1. Great news. There are so many variables with sportscar racing that make it interesting. Can’t wait to see who else will toss their hat into the ring….
I guess Audi was getting close to there overall wins at Le Mans, once they past Ferrari in 2nd
This will mean a withdrawal for Audi.
Apparently Porsche doesn’t intend to let anyone get too close to that 16 victories mark. Aston Martin need to get working on something.
The should put away the AMR-One now and work on developing it for 2013 and beyond, and keep running the Lola Aston for a couple more years. Might not be practical from their point of view, but that’s what i would try to do.
That’s a more appropriate picture…the last Porsche that won overall.
The Van Merkstein car wasn’t even the last Porsche that won a prototype class. It was the Team Essex car.
Van Merkstein was very dominant in 2008 (in the LMS) but it had a bigger restrictor and less weight.
But i think if it had made a trip over to the ALMS it would have had trouble keeping up with the Dyson cars. The Acuras and Penske cars were on another planet that year.
I wonder how many teams will be scrambling to get this works contract.
@Bamba,
Porsches return to the LMP1 was under discussion within the VAG. As Porsche spoke about a desire to return for a while. So Audi knew about Porsche’s intentions.
As the VAG does not want there brands to race against each other, a retreat by Audi is a possibility. We have to wait what the future brings.
I’m almost sure this means that the Le Mans engagement will be handed over from Audi to Porsche. Why does Porsche aim towards 2014? Does it take 3 years to develop an LMP1 prototype for an experienced race company? I guess not. But 2014 is the first year of the new engine regulations in formula one, which Audi will join. Audi has been deeply involved into the FIA discussion about the F1 engine regulations. And Audi has Red Bull sponsorship in DTM. No big step to see a Red Bull-Audi in F1 starting 2014. And then the LMP1 team will be easy to find for Porsche, as I guess that the Joest experience will be valuable for them, too.
I’m not convinced it will mean a withdrawal for Audi, the R18 is intended to race up until 2014 and Audi have no intentions of stopping after that. This is clear to see from the “road relevant” marketing and promotional material that stems from their LMP1 programme. Porsche and Audi would be racing in LMP1 with different powertrain solutions and with different marketing strategies and benefits.
Plus with cars from potentially as many manufacturers as Toyota, Mazda, Honda, Nissan, Ferrari, Aston Martin and Peugeot too, it would hardly be a VAG civil war!
If Audi do enter F1 (and now that the new rules have gone down a V6 route, I doubt they will), it’ll be an engine supply deal only.
Dr. Ullrich has stated on many occasions about the road relevant benefits that racing in LMP1 provides, that F1 can’t even touch.
YEAH BABY! Pat long has a new ride.
Awesome!!!
Great news and long overdue! I agree with those who say that this means Audi’s imminent departure from P1. The current period from 1999-2014 with no factory P1 effort from Porsche is due in my opinion to Audi’s presence. Although Porsche was an independent firm for most of this period, there has always been a good deal of overlapping share ownership with VAG and probably a “gentleman’s agreement” on Le Mans representation. I also believe that the marketing utility for a P1 TDI car has almost run it’s course for Audi anyways: it is time for a change. What’s most frustrating for a Porsche fan, though, is to reflect on a 15-year period with no P1 effort and no chance for overall victory– what a travesty for this legendary sports car brand! It’s comparable to Ferrari taking a 15-year hiatus from F1– unthinkable!
AMAZING!
Good time to be a Porsche Factory driver!!!
I don’t think Audi will necessarily be retiring. For instance, the Bentley project of the early 2000s or the 1999 Audi project, I think team Joest will run some new Porsche alongside the R18/any new Audi, then which ever is more successful will continue, with the other dropping out.
I think Porsche would like Audi to step aside but I don’t think it’s going to happen. Just remember in the world of V.A.G Audi is the golden money making cash cow and Porsche is still the black hole of debit thanks to the failed takeover attempt of VW. Also I think Audi will remember back to 2009 when the then Porsche board played hall ball with Audi’s racing budget in an effect to tell them who was the boss. If anything I see Porsche stepping up guarantees Audi will race on beyond 2014, because if there was ever a team that everyone wants to beat at Le Mans its Porsche.
Audi is building a 1.6 littre V6…to compete in guess what!
F1 on 2014
@Audinotfan
People keep saying Audi is going to move to F1, but the only hard evidence on the subject is what Ulrick said about NOT going into F1, to all you rumor spreders about Audi moving into F1, PROVE IT.
Well Audi vs Porshe! Sweet! For those who remember or are a bit curious about LeMans, Porsche in the past run several factory backed or even factory teams at LeMans. I remember reading something about a team entered by Ferdinand Piech and other entered by his sister at the same race for instance. Porsche family fights, I guess. And Since VAG is mainly a Porsche family run business, using two brands to sort their differences won’t be that bad, lol.
And if more manufacturers enter the new era FIA WSCC, VAG would want to ensure it will win it. VAG wants to be number one car company in the world. It’s in their benefit that Toyota enters the champ. only for them to beat their “rivals”! I just wonder from where the money comes. Ferrari states it doesn’t have the money for F1 + Sports cars, though they are some of the big spenders on f1.
About Audi F1: Adrian Newey from RedBull said that Audi was the one that wanted the 4-Cylinder 1.6 turbo in order to enter F1. But then it said it wouldn’t enter F1 after all even after the teams accepted the proposal! So, the F1 teams moved on to the V6 turbo formula.
So, for now Audi is out of F1.
It’s indeed true that Patrick Long will get a new ride. He had Joined Porsche with the intention of driving prototypes. So that made him stop pursuing F1. But he only had about 1 and half season of prototype racing.
But i supposed the money and the benefits have been good if not he probably would have bolted to try to find something more to his liking.
He never really had a proper chance to prove himself either in prototypes. In 2008 Roger Penske had the #6 car playing Felipe Massa to the #7 car’s Alonso role. But we know he has the speed.
Marco Holzer and Patrick Pilet could get some action too. Maybe even Andre Lotterer.
Porsche drivers that just won the 24h stunnde…are the real deal.
For instance.
I think we might see either penske or joest running the new Porsche LMP1 penske said back when’ve was running the RS spyder that he wouldn’t go to lemans unless he had a chance to win it overall now is his chance and joest of course a long time Porsche supporter With a few wins with them as well so there is obvious chance there as for the drivers who knows but I’m thinking pat long Jorge berg Timo burnhard romain Dumas maybe lukas luhr (seen him back in a porche a few times this year) and mike rockey could be the names seen in the Porsche LMP1 and as for Audi staying in the LMP1 battle I would think they would have a hard time just sitting down and letting Porsche go for it I would have to think they will continue their involvement but I don’t see a future for them in F1 beacause they have said many times they have no interest
^Well after all, Porsche traditionally gave their cars to several Factory backed teams as well as some privateers, for example the 935, 956 and 962.
Well, I have never ever expected to see the Porsche vs Audi battle. It’s unreal, this is one manufacturer. Contemporary Audi team is the Porsche team, just with a different badge. They cooperate with Joest, they use Porsche factory drivers…
Well, they did race at ALMS, not in the same category but they did race against each others. I doubt Audi will pull out…