NEWS
PORSCHE REVEAL POWER-PLANT
Porsche’s 919 hybrid has steered away from the path set by Audi and adopted a power-train system comprising of a two-litre V4 engine with a motor generator driven by a separate turbine in the exhaust system.
Confirmation of the architecture of the gas-powered element of the LMP1 racer's power-train came just as its hybrid systems were also unveiled – despite being hinted at when the car was first tested in June 2013.
Porsche LMP1 technical director Alex Hitzinger said that a vee-shape had been chosen over an in-line configuration for reasons of weight-saving and packaging (a route that Renault chose when courting Formula One success in the mid 2000’s).
"In a car like this, you want the engine to be a structural part” said Hitzinger.
"If you would go for an in-line four you would have to have some kind of space-frame around the engine and that is obviously additional weight and complexity."
Porsche also revealed that it is planning to run in the highest category of hybrid power discharge, eight megajoules per lap of Le Mans. Compared to last year’s Toyota Hybrid system which delivered 500Kj of energy, at.3.55Mj of power per lap and it looks like a scary prospect. But doubling this output at both the front and rear of the car and you would easily hit 7Mj, so it is a relatively simple target to hit the 8Mj limit.
Image courtesy Porsche Motorsport
Images courtesy Porsche Motorsport