Porsche’s decision to return to Le Mans LMP1 class in 2014 is a significant event in itself. But the recent announcement about F1 star Mark Webber joining the team gave it a lot more momentum. Now to keep our engines revving, they released some new pictures of the 2014 Porsche LMP1 racer, Webber’s company car.

The new LMP1 car is the spiritual successor to the legendary Porsche 917, and therefore carries a lot of weight on its shoulders. Everybody expects it to be something very special, which is a tall order for a couple of reasons.

The 917 was an incredibly advanced car, mostly in terms of aerodynamics, in its day. It was a giant leap forward; the kind that is impossible these days. The technology has arrive at a point that there are no more giant steps to be taken. It’s all about little steps and little details now. That is probably why Porsche has employed a dedicated team of 200 experts and gave them their very own facility to try and make a car worthy of representing Porsche at the world’s most glorious motorsport scene.

They didn’t have to start from scratch, however, as Porsche has been running the RS Spyder in American Le Mans Series for some years. The 2014 Porsche LMP1, though, is a closed cockpit car and it uses bespoke technicalities. It will be an interesting match, this car taking on the mighty R18 from sister company Audi. Only a civil war can put an end to Audi’s reign.

Commenting on his decision to leave Formula 1 and joining Porsche, Mark Webber said: “It’s an honour for me to join Porsche on its return to the top category at Le Mans and in the sports car World Endurance Championship and to be part of the team. Porsche has written racing history as a manufacturer and stands for outstanding technology and performance at the highest level.”