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Porsche 919 Hybrid (2017) – Specs & Performance

#1 Porsche 919 Hybrid
#1, Porsche 919 Hybrid, Porsche Team, driven by Neel Jani, Andre Lotterer, Nick Tandy, FIA WEC 2017 Prologue, Autodromo Nazionale Monza, 02/04/2017

Now in its fourth year of competition, the Porsche 919 hybrid continues to be developed into a more efficient racer. Retaining its same 4-cylinder petrol-driven engine, the LM P1 regulations require that the 919 be ever-more efficient while delivering similar performance.Team Principal and acting technical director, Andreas Seidl, said, “For the 2017 season, 60 to 70 per cent of the vehicle is newly developed. The basic concept of the 919 Hybrid still offers scope to optimise the finer details and further boost efficiency. The monocoque has remained unchanged since 2016.”
After dabbling with a trio of 919s in 2015 at Spa and Le Mans, Porsche returned to a two-car setup last year and they will retain this combination in 2017. Many of the technical specs of the 919 are carried over from 2016 as Porsche is still using Lithium-ion batteries for energy storage, and the car will still run in the 8MJ class. The 4-cylinder engine produces just under 500bhp while the two separate energy recovery systems which recover energy on both acceleration and under braking, generate a further 400bhp.

Approximately 60 per cent of the recovered energy comes from the KERS on the front-axle brakes, while the remaining 40 per cent is generated by the exhaust energy recovery system.
Two aerodynamic packages instead of the previous three have been mandated, and these aerodynamic restrictions are designed to lower the cornering speeds of the 919 and other LM P1 cars. This will have effect of raising lap times slightly.

Together with the mechanical enhancements made to the chassis, a number of software innovations have helped to further improve the driving quality of the 919, in terms of both traction control and hybrid management. Both of these factors have a significant impact on the service life of the tyres, as LMP1 teams will now have three sets of tyres fewer available to them for each race weekend and car. This means that tyre sets will need to withstand double stints of racing on a more frequent basis, lasting the equivalent of two tanks of fuel, or a driving time of around one and a half hours.

In 2017, the two Porsches will be driven by: #1 – Neel Jani (33, Switzerland), André Lotterer (35, Germany) and Nick Tandy (32, Great Britain). The second car will be driven by: #2 –Timo Bernhard (36, Germany), and the two New Zealanders Earl Bamber (26) and Brendon Hartley (27).

Porsche 919 Hybrid technical specs

Model Porsche 919 Hybrid (2017)
Vehicle type Le Mans Prototype, class LM P1
Monocoque Composite fibre construction made of carbon fibres with a honeycomb aluminium core
On-board system battery Lithium-ion battery
Engine
Combustion engine V4 engine with turbocharging
Displacement 2000cc
Combustion engine power <500bhp rear axle
Engine management Bosch MS5.6
Engine lubrication Dry-sump lubrication
MGU >400bhp front axle
Max. power Approx. 900bhp
Drive/power transmission
Drive type Rear wheel drive, all-wheel drive via KERS on the front axle
Clutch CFRP clutch
Transmission Sequential, hydraulically activated 7-speed sequential racing transmission
Differential Rear differential lock
Transmission housing Hybrid construction in CFRP with titanium inserts and cast aluminium housing
Drive shafts Constant-velocity sliding tripod universal joints
#1 Porsche 919 Hybrid
#1, Porsche 919 Hybrid, Porsche Team, driven by Neel Jani, Andre Lotterer, Nick Tandy, FIA WEC 2017 Prologue, Autodromo Nazionale Monza, 02/04/2017
Chassis/steering/brake
Chassis Front and rear multi-link pushrod independent wheel suspension with adjustable shock absorbers
Steering Hydraulically assisted rack-and-pinion steering
Brakes Hydraulic dual-circuit brake system, light-alloy monobloc brake callipers, internally ventilated carbon fibre rear and front brake discs
Rims Forged magnesium wheels
Tyres Michelin Radial, front and rear: 310/710-18
Weight/volume
Length/width/height 4650mm/1900mm/1050mm
Minimum weight 875kg
Tank capacity 62.3-litres
Performance
0-100km/h (0-62mph) 2.2 seconds
0-200km/h (0-124mph) 4.8 seconds

Written by: Glen Smale
Images by: Virtual Motorpix/John Mountney