Porsche confirmed they have initiated a new LMP1 sports prototype project to race in the 2014 Le Mans 24 Hours and the sports car World Endurance Championship. And joy of joys it’s a factory ‘works’ team, which means it has factory support and the drivers are all Porsche works drivers.
Those familiar with Porsche’s racing history know that this is kind of a big deal, because when it comes to Le Mans and especially LMP1 class, Porsche doesn’t mess about. They have made a sort of special forces unit with a new department for the LMP1 effort headed by Fritz Enzinger, and gave him nine of their ace works drivers. Porsche is obviously missing the glorious days of the 917.
“The first roll-out of our new LMP1 car is planned for mid-2013,” announced Wolfgang Hatz, Porsche AG Board of Management Member for Research and Development, on Saturday on the occasion of the end of season Porsche Motorsport ‘Night of Champions’ celebration. “The car will be run by our own factory ‘works’ team based here at Weissach.”
Besides the LMP1 program, the regular motorsport department has the new 911 GT3 Cup Car in store. It will compete in its own Mobil 1 one-make series, as well as various other competitions. It is a sort of turn key racing car after all.
