Porsche debuts new 919

By Adam Tate, Managing Editor

Not to be outdone by rivals, Audi, Porsche has also unveiled its 2016 WEC challenger in the form of an all new 919 hybrid.

Following on the team’s massive success from victory at Le Mans and a World Championship in 2015, Porsche has merely refined their prototype instead of the kind of ground up work rivals Audi and Toyota have undertaken.

Despite new fuel flow limits cutting the power of the 2.0 liter turbocharged V4 engine, Porsche still claims the car makes over 900 horsepower. It does so by continuing to be the only manufacturer to compete in the 8MJ subclass of LMP1, harvesting far more electrical energy for its hybrid system than does Toyota or Audi.

The chassis has been lightened and is more rigid as well. Small, incremental and very German improvements, but the 919 was so dominant in WEC last year that such changes should be enough to keep it at the sharp end of the grid.

We will find out just how it stacks up on April 17th when the WEC season gets underway at Silverstone.

Image: Porsche