Tag: Porsche LMP1

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Formula 1 Porsche Red Bull Racing WEC

Mark Webber starts with Porsche on Monday!

2014 Porsche LMP1

In his interview with Formula1.com Mark Webber was asked when he starts working with Porsche. “In January. Before that I will take some time off to detox from Formula One,” was his reply.

The lying scoundrel!

Here’s what his new boss, Matthias Muller, Porsche CEO told News Limited today: “We are very lucky that Mark will join us one day after the Formula One race in Sao Paulo.

“I met him last week when he had the seat fitting. We are very happy to have him.”

Mark is scheduled to have his first test in the 2014 Porsche LMP1 racecar next month and Muller knows the 16 time Le Mans winners will have a tough job ahead of them.

“Of course, we expect that we are competitive but we have to say that with Audi and Toyota we have strong competition. They have a lot of experience,” Muller added.

“We have a very fast car and a very good drivers’ team, so we have to see what happens. Of course, we want to be competitive and we will see during the race whether it is possible to win.”

Rumours suggest Brendon Hartley, former Webber protege and Toro Rosso test driver, could be joining Porsche’s Le Mans assault as well.

[Source: news.com.au]

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Porsche WEC

VIDEO: Porsche LMP1 puts wheels in motion

2014 Porsche LMP1 testing at Weissach

Porsche continues to build momentum for its return to top level endurance racing in 2014 with this video showing off its new LMP1 racecar. For Mark’s sake, let’s hope Porsche can build a better alternator than the Red Bull Racing-Renault combination.

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Porsche WEC

VIDEO: Porsche LMP1 engine development

Porsche LMP1 engine development

Porsche has checked in with this brief video to remind us a) that they’re German and b) that they’re busy working hard on Mark’s new car. That blurry thing in the middle of the screen cap above is their new LMP1 engine. They don’t want us to know how many cylinders they’re using, you see. Crafty buggers, hey.

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Porsche WEC

Porsche continues LMP1 development

2014 Porsche LMP1

Porsche continues to work hard on its 2014 LMP1 program. It’s only just over two months since we got our first glimpse of Mark Webber’s new wheels and already Porsche says it’s “been completely redesigned”.

Webber’s new teammates, Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas and Neel Jani have all enjoyed time behind the wheel of the LMP1, with Jani the latest to experience some track time.

Keen to push the racing to road philosophy Porsche says the new LMP1 rules for the 2014 season, which promote fuel efficiency through hybrid technology, will translate to their production models in the future.

Porsche board member Wolfgang Hatz is aware of the proud history the company has with Le Mans, and says they are ready to embrace the challenges ahead. “After 16 years, we once again want to be a works team in the top category with the LMP1 in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2014. It is also our aim to contest the entire WEC season”, said Hatz.

“Porsche’s legacy of success in long-distances races really spurs us on, but also increases the level of expectation placed on us. However, we are happy to rise to this challenge.”

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Porsche WEC

More birthday joy for Mark!

2014 Porsche LMP1 racecar

Porsche has used its dedicated Mission 2014 microsite to bring us more photos of its LMP1 racecar. And we’re sharing them with you to help celebrate Mark Webber’s birthday. We think he’ll quite like his new present, even if he has to wait a while yet to open its swirly camouflage wrapping.

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Formula 1 Porsche Red Bull Racing WEC

Reaction to Mark Webber’s Porsche move

Fernando Alonso, Mark Webber, Jenson Button

The reaction to Mark Webber’s decision to quit Formula 1 and switch to endurance racing with Porsche has captured the attention of the media across the world.

To be honest we’ve been a little surprised by how much coverage there has been, especially in the F1 paddock. Perhaps that says a lot about the high regard in which Mark is held, where his no nonsense and honest approach is greatly appreciated.

So here’s a grab of some of the comments that have been made since Mark’s move to Porsche was announced, starting with the FIA’s Thursday press conference ahead of this weekend’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

It’s interesting to note that Mark said his mind has been made up for some time, which adds more weight to the early rumours which first emerged in June last year and again in April this year.

Q: A momentous announcement from you today. Tell us the thinking behind the announcement of your retirement from Formula One. And how significant is the year, 2013 to 2014?

Mark WEBBER: Well, the timing is perfect for me. Very, very excited about my new chapter and the new challenge ahead. One of the most famous and most well-respected brands in automotive and motor racing in Porsche, so that’s something which personally I’m very satisfied about taking on. The decision has been there for quite a long time for me actually. So, I’ve known for quite a while, I’ve had a plan and I’ve stuck to it. But still, in the meantime, respecting the profession that I have now at this level and focusing on achieving very, very strong results in my last season in Formula One.

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Formula 1 Motorsports Porsche Red Bull Racing WEC

OFFICIAL: Webber to race for Porsche in 2014

Mark Webber, 2014 factory Porsche driver

Mark Webber: factory Porsche driver. It has a nice ring to it, don’t you think.

Sure, it’s not the most surprising news—over a year since it was first mentioned—but it’s now official that Mark Webber has been signed to drive for Porsche in the World Endurance Championship, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, from 2014 on a multi-year deal.

Whether multi-year translates to the five-year deal mentioned in April, or a more circumspect two–three year deal is not certain at this stage.

Mark has been a Porsche enthusiast for many years and his expertise and setup skills developed in Formula 1 should be a great boost to Porsche as it prepares for its 2014 LMP1 program.

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

“I’m very much looking forward to this new challenge after my time in Formula 1. Porsche will undoubtedly set itself very high goals. I can hardly wait to pilot one of the fastest sports cars in the world.”

Porsche will run a minimum of two cars for the WEC series, with three likely for Le Mans. Other drivers confirmed for Porsche are Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas, and Neel Jani.

Now that Mark’s F1 future is known the race will be on to see who replaces him at Red Bull Racing. Will it be Kimi Raikkonen or one of the Toro Rosso drivers, Daniel Ricciardo or Jean-Eric Vergne?

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Motorsports Porsche

An early look at the 2014 Porsche LMP1

2014 Porsche LMP1 testing at Weissach

On the day Sebastian Vettel extended his deal with the Red Bull F1 team it is quite fitting that the first official photos of Mark Webber’s new car have been published by Porsche today.

Porsche works driver Timo Bernhard was at the wheel for the first test session in the 2014 Porsche LMP1, which took place at the company’s Weissach test facility. Although the timing of the run, so close to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, is coincidental Porsche says.

“We are well on schedule,” says Fritz Enzinger, who heads up the LMP1 program for Porsche. “Our newly formed team has worked with utmost concentration on getting this highly complex vehicle on the track as soon as possible. This allows us a few additional weeks for more testing and further development. From 2014, the regulations are primarily based on efficiency. This makes the competition amongst engineers more interesting and presents us with completely new challenges.”

Highlighting its commitment to the chase for outright success at Le Mans and in the World Endurance Championship, Porsche says it has assembled a team of 200 employees to help achieve its goals.

“I’m very proud that I was the one to take our baby through its first paces today,” said Bernhard. “Already now the car feels great. I look forward to testing the vehicle in the coming weeks and months with my friend and colleague Romain Dumas.”

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