Porsche Returns to Le Mans in 2014

Development Program Confirmed for LMP1 Sports Prototype

ATLANTA — June 30, 2011 — 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 Mller, 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. Porsches 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 companys history. Were 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, Stphane 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.

# # #

About Porsche Cars North America

Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA), based in Atlanta, Ga. is the exclusive U.S. importer of Porsche sports cars, the Cayenne SUV and Panamera Gran Turismo. Established in 1984, it is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Porsche AG, which is headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, and employs approximately 220 people who provide parts, service, marketing and training for 195 dealers. They, in turn, work to provide Porsche customers with a best-in-class experience that is in keeping with the brands 63-year history and leadership in the advancement of vehicle performance, safety and efficiency. At the core of this success is Porsches proud racing heritage that boasts some 30,000 motorsport wins to date.

Note: Photos are available to accredited journalists on the Porsche Press Database at http://press.porsche.com/. Video footage is available to registered users at http://thenewsmarket.com/porsche.

Contact: Porsche Cars North America, Inc.

Nick Twork
Manager, Product Communications
678-323-6975
nick.twork@porsche.us

Dave Engelman
Media Relations Manager
770-290-3617
dave.engelman@porsche.us

###

Follow us:

Leave a Comment