We are now dealing with the second-generation 919 Hybrid, which has stepped up in terms of energy recuperation within its LMP1 class. The 919 thus goes from the 6MJ sub-class to the 8MJ area.
For those unfamiliar with the endurance racing rule book, the amount of fuel allowed is directly proportional with the amount of recovered electrical energy the driver can use per lap as boost , with the four available classes ranging between 2 and 8MJ.
"The 2015 Porsche 919 Hybrid is approximately 85-90 percent completely new, " Team Principal Andreas Seidl said. "We took our time on going 8MJ as we had to validate what we had seen on the simulations. Of course we do not know what our competitors will be like on the all-round pace of the package."
The now lighter and stronger 2-liter V4 engine will follow the strictest energy/fuel lap formula. For Le Mans, this means the racecar will only use 4.76 liters of petrol per lap.
For this year, the unit uses a twin exhaust system that not only aims to increase output, but also bring aerodynamic benefits.
The overall energy recuperation layout remains unchanged - we have front axle kinetic and exhaust gas recuperation, plus a battery storage system. The juice gathered here will power a 400 hp electric motor
While the Zuffenhausen people are sure they can recover 8MJ on the 13.629 km (8.47 miles) Le Mans track, the other circuits are shorter, so they'll have to recuperate much more per mile, which means getting that peak boost will be a bit of a challenge.
While the new 919 may have more energy density, it's also lighter, with the company managing to bring it down to the 870 kg (1,918 lbs) official limit.
Ladies and gentlemen drivers, Porsche will run three different liveries in June for the 919 Hybrid triumvirate. The best bit of the news is that car #17 is back on the track! We are, of course, talking about the Red livery, which is inspired from that of the 917KH that gave Porsche its first overall win back in 1970 with Richard Attwood and Hans Hermann behind the wheel.
Dubbed "Salzburg Delivery", this color scheme will see Mark Webber, Timo Bernhard and Brendon Hartley getting inside the cockpit.
Car #18, the Black one, will be driven by Neel Jani, Romain Dumas and Marc Lieb. The hue is here to celebrate Lieb's record-setting production supercar Nurburgring lap back in 2013 and yes the 918 Spyder was involved.
Nevertheless, these two racecars, which run a full-season World Endurance Championship, will continue to use the same White livery until late May, when the Le Mans testing day takes place. We can only assume Porsche enjoys its 919 dressed in these lab coats that, to us, symbolize the company's dedication to research.
Once the Circuit de la Sarthe adventure is completed, the two cars will switch back to the original livery. So yes, the Porsches will be White for the six-hour races at Silverstone, Spa, (this is where Le Mans is placed within the season), Nurburgring, COTA, Fuji, Shanghai and Bahrain.
As for the extra car that will be brought in for Le Mans, #19 will be manhandled by Nico Hulkenburg, Nick Tandy and Earl Bamber. No special livery for this racer though.
http://www.autoevolution.com/news/porsche-s-2015-le-mans-2nd-generation-919-racecar-in-3-liveries-future-hybrid-911-refference-93739.html
