This coming weekend sees the Porsche LMP Team start the first out of nine rounds of the 2017 FIA World Endurance Championship. The six-hour race at Silverstone, the home of British motorsport will be the first duel between the reworked Porsche 919 hybrid and the latest Toyota TS050 Hybrid.
Porsche, world champions and Le Mans winners in 2015 and 2016 respectively, targets the defence of both titles. But in England the team expects a difficult start. In support of the aerodynamic strategy for the entire season, the Porsche 919 Hybrids will run at the Northamptonshire circuit with significantly less downforce than the fast bends of the challenging Grand Prix track realistically demand.
The eagerly anticipated first race for the 27-car field gets underway on Sunday at 12:00 hrs. Track action on the 5.9 kilometre long Formula One circuit can be followed live from basically all over the world.
The Porsche 919 Hybrid has been widely reworked for the 2017 championship. 60 to 70 per cent of the Le Mans prototype’s components are new developments. This goes especially for the areas of aerodynamics, chassis and combustion engine. However, the power train in principle remains the same.
The newly assembled line-up of the Porsche LMP1 works drivers feel well-rehearsed after winter testing and the WEC Prologue in Monza (IT). Reigning world champion Neel Jani (CH) has the number 1 on the car he shares with Nick Tandy (GB) and Porsche newcomer André Lotterer (DE). The number 2 sister car belongs to the two New Zealanders, Earl Bamber and Brendon Hartley, together with Timo Bernhard (DE).
More than a thousand Club members are expected to join us at the weekend, with an exclusive area set aside on the old section of track at Bridge that will enable owners to park together and display their Porsche.
Club hospitality will be provided from the Race Centre, which will also house the Members’ Collection for the weekend, with a wide selection of Porsche and Club products available to purchase.
On the Saturday, a courtesy shuttle service will be operating between there and the Porsche Experience Centre alongside the famous Hangar Straight. Once at the Centre, members can enjoy further hospitality as well as hot laps of its circuit in the G2 Panamera. Porsche’s LMP1 drivers might even pop in to take part in interview sessions.
Schedule (local time):
Friday, 14th April
11:45-13:15 free practice
16:45-18:15 free practice
Saturday, 15th April
09:40-10:40 free practice
13:30-13:50 qualifying LMP1 & LMP2
Sunday, 16th April
12:00-18:00 race