14 minute read
All-Arounder
Icons of Tomorrow
Numerous technical details were specially developed for it: the Porsche 963. And so this top player of the coming LMDh season is like a finger pointing from the future. Head of Motorsport Thomas Laudenbach explains the new endurance phenomenon from Weissach.
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By Heike HIENTZSCH Photos by Rafael KRÖTZ
With barely a sound, the sports car prototype glides out of the pit in electric mode. 21, 22, 23 – and then the internal combustion engine kicks in with a voluminous V8 sound. Thomas Laudenbach listens eagerly as the rpm climb to over 8,000. “For me, this engine is like a good friend from back in the day,” says the 54-year-old Head of Porsche Motorsport, who took over from Fritz Enzinger in October 2021. During Enzinger’s tenure, Porsche secured three World Endurance Championship titles with the Porsche 919 Hybrid as well as its 17th, 18th, and 19th overall wins in Le Mans. “With the new LMDh 963, we’ve set our sights on the 20th overall win in France,” says Laudenbach, his goal ambitious. “We also want to win titles in the North American IMSA series and the World Endurance Championship.”
With the LMDh program, Porsche is returning to the top league of these championships to battle it out again for overall wins. The spectacular race car with a system output of around 680 hp will make its debut at 24 Hours of Daytona in January 2023. The competition is fierce, as Acura, BMW, and Cadillac have also developed LMDh race cars for the new prototype class of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The abbreviation LMDh stands for Le Mans Daytona hybrid. The group of Le Mans Hypercars (LMHs), which includes Ferrari, Glickenhaus, Peugeot, and Toyota, will also compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC).
The fact that it’s even possible for Porsche to participate in the IMSA series and the WEC with the same car is all down to a past agreement. On January 24, 2020, three associations announced a new set of rules: Le Mans organizer Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO), Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), and the US American International Motor Sports Association (IMSA). The shared goal is to increase power density with as many prototypes as possible and a complex set of rules that prevent skyrocketing costs. How do you go about doing that?
Lightweight: The weight-optimized Porsche 963 appears to be floating in the photo. Thomas Laudenbach (54) prefers to keep his feet firmly on the ground. As the Head of Motorsport, he’s responsible for all motorsport activities and has several core areas of expertise, which include realistic assessments and traction.
Light strip: Drivers can see who’s in front of them. The light strip is integrated at the rear, with the letters of the brand name shining below.
Thomas LAUDENBACH Balance of performance
To start with, by introducing the first-ever dynamic regulations in the top category of this sport. A balance of performance (BoP) like this, which allows the organizers to take technical measures when a single vehicle maintains superiority over an extended period of time, has only ever existed in near-standard GT classes. “Due to this BoP, excessive investments in increased performance are no longer necessarily worthwhile,” explains Laudenbach. Additional weight or other restrictions would cancel out enhanced performance resulting from many hours in the wind tunnel or sophisticated electronics.
The second key factor in keeping costs low is base components that are excluded from development from the very start. As a result, all LMDh vehicles have the same Xtrac seven-speed motorsport transmission and hybrid system, including the Bosch electronic control unit and the Williams Advanced Engineering battery. Michelin supplies standardized tires. The associations approved four chassis manufacturers for the monocoque and chassis: Dallara, Ligier, ORECA, and Multimatic. Porsche is both the first and the exclusive partner of Multimatic, and was the first manufacturer to test the hybrid system and tires. “In this leading role, we’re paving the way for our competitors,” says Laudenbach, who is a mechanical engineer. “But we also benefit from a steep learning curve in collaboration with the international partners. And in the areas that are most important to us, we’re independent, of course,” he adds, glancing at the engine.
Twin-turbo V8
The LMDh regulations do not restrict displacement, design, or the number of cylinders in the internal combustion engine. Laudenbach and his engineers chose an old, familiar engine to be the basis for Porsche’s return to the top class. In his early days with Porsche, between 1998 and 2013, Laudenbach was responsible for the drive in the LMP2 RS Spyder race car, which served as the basis for use in the 918 Spyder. “Motorsport is already in the genes of its V8 cylinder. The low position of the crankshaft, in particular, allows you to optimize the race car’s center of gravity,” he says enthusiastically. “The dry sump lubrication was already designed for high lateral acceleration in the 918. If you consider the degree of freedom in the regulations – for example, when it comes to minimum weight and performance – this 4.6-liter engine offers an outstanding basis for an LMDh drive.”
Of course, that’s not to say that a ten-year-old engine is pulled off the shelf and installed in a world-class race car in Weissach. “Alongside some general fine-tuning, there are also three fundamental changes,” Laudenbach adds. “First of all, the V8 in the 963 also acts as a load-bearing structural element in the vehicle. Second, we designed it for use with renewable fuels. And third, the former naturally aspirated engine now features two powerful turbochargers. Being able to vary boost pressure provides us with flexibility when we need to respond to BoP adjustments.”
Lines: According to the regulations, the aerodynamics of new LMDh race cars must remain within strictly defined limits. Porsche translated the stringent rules into a design opportunity for the 963 and fulfilled them in partnership with Style Porsche. Grant Larson integrated the typical flyline and forward-looking details for series sports cars.
Light: The headlights are low and narrow, which is unusual for illumination on a racecourse at night, when every millisecond counts and speeds can reach up to 210 mph. But the eyes provide a look at the series design. The motorsport experts made the Style Porsche design suitable for racing with the installation and alignment of 64 LED lights.
Thomas LAUDENBACH
More about the Porsche 963 –
now in the 9:11 Magazine LMDh engine regulations put a stop to big investments in increased performance. The maximum system output provided by the hybrid system and internal combustion engine – 700 hp – applies to all LMDh competitors. And output must develop along the prescribed curve throughout the entire rev range. Power is measured at the rear axle – all-wheel drive is not permitted. “The same characteristics are therefore prescribed for all of the engines,” Laudenbach explains. “It’s much the same with aerodynamics. Our drag and downforce must remain within a defined window at all times.”
What it all comes down to
The framework of rigid rules made development all the more difficult. Fulfilling them is one thing, and ensuring reliability is another – and a basic requirement for success. To outperform its competitors, Porsche Penske Motorsport focused on other key development attributes. “Some of the most important elements in the vehicle specifications were perfect balance and drivability in all conditions, whether with a full or empty tank, with new or used tires,” Laudenbach explains. “We don’t need a ‘top’ car. It just needs to be consistently fast because that’s what allows you to win races and championships in series with BoP. In addition, ease of use for the driver – especially in changing weather conditions – and outstanding serviceability for the Porsche Penske Motorsport pit crew were important to us.”
These will all be crucial competition factors when Porsche battles it out again for overall wins in a matter of weeks. The Porsche 963 already deserves a trophy for aesthetics. ●
TIME TO RACE
UNIQUE TIMEPIECE
The Joy of Being One Part of the Whole
Former Formula 1 driver Felipe Nasr has found his place in endurance racing with Porsche. He draws his strong sense of community from freedom, his family, and rugged nature.
By Heike HIENTZSCH Photos by Luisa DÖRR
Question: What does life in the Amazon rain forest have in common with life as part of an endurance racing team? “Both systems only work if everything is in harmony,” explains Felipe Nasr. “It’s all about mutual respect, a positive awareness of dependencies, and a sense of community at all times.”
Luiz Felipe de Oliveira Nasr was born in the Brazilian capital Brasília as the only son of Samir and Eliane on August 21, 1992. He has an older sister, Flavia. “We enjoyed a carefree childhood,” says a grateful Nasr, who is now a Porsche works driver. He spent much of his childhood at racetracks as his father and his father’s brother Amir, sons of a Lebanese immigrant, ran a motorsport team. Felipe climbed into a kart for the first time at the age of eight. “I wasn’t under any pressure; I was just having fun,” he reminisces. He went on to win karting championships and junior formula series. In 2009, he moved to Italy. His uncle Amir stayed with him for two months, but after that the 16yearold was on his own. “I was lonely,” admits Nasr, “but I dreamed of competing in Formula 1.” His dream came true in 2014. He first served as a reserve driver with the Williams team, then drove for Sauber for two years. He had a fantastic debut with Sauber, coming fifth in the first race of the season in Melbourne – the best debut any Brazilian has ever achieved in the elite class of motorsport. When the team was sold, Nasr had to look around for an alternative option in 2017. “That was a painful low point,” he admits, “but in retrospect it was the best thing that could have happened to me.”
Nasr returned to the other side of the Atlantic to engage in sports car racing. He wasn’t familiar with the IMSA series racetracks but still succeeded in clinching the title in his first full season in 2018. He subsequently also finished in second place overall in 2019 and was crowned champion again in 2021. By then, he had been on Porsche Motorsport’s radar for some time and, in summer 2021, they had a secret meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina. “I didn’t have to think about it for long – having the opportunity to compete for this brand is a huge gift.” He thanked Porsche Motorsport in his own way – with a win on his first outing for them. In January 2022, he won the GTD PRO class of the 24 Hours of Daytona in a Porsche 911 GT3 R together with the Frenchman Mathieu Jaminet and
Family guy: Felipe Nasr loves team spirit and togetherness – whether in the pit lane or at his family home in Brasília.
Felipe NASR
the Australian Matt Campbell. “It was just like in a fairy tale!” The race car driver, who is five foot eight inches tall, raises his arms to the skies while he talks and his brown eyes sparkle as he ruffles his black hair. “We achieved this together – us three drivers and the entire team. This kind of success only comes if everyone gives it their all.”
His career is littered with successes – but as far as Nasr is concerned, his career has only just begun. Using the new Porsche 963 LMDh race car, he intends to score wins in other major endurance races, compete for titles, and deliver the bestpossible performance together with the team. He also wishes to strike a good balance. He taught himself to play the guitar in 2018 and songs by the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Dire Straits, and Eric Clapton feature high on the 30yearold’s list of personal favorites. The only things he loves more are his family and his home city Brasília, which he has since returned to. With the help of his sister Flavia, who is a successful architect, he built his own home on their parents’ land. “I’m a family guy through and through. Flavia and her little daughter Helena, our parents, uncle, aunt, and cousins – we’re a very lively team!”
A team that never loses sight of what really matters. This is important to Felipe Nasr. Which is why he regularly travels to the Amazonia region. There’s no cell phone reception or Internet there, just pure nature – and he spends his days there outside of his comfort zone. Out there in the wilderness, he sits in a dinghy, marvels at the flora and fauna, and goes fishing. He doesn’t eat the fish he catches; he simply observes them. “Fish stock observation is important – we have to do something to stop species extinction.” He allows the animals to gently slide back into the river. “They’re part of their own community there; it’s where they belong.” ●
The International Driver Lineup
Success founded on experience: the two Porsche 963 vehicles competing in the 11 IMSA races are likely to be driven by Dane Cameron (34, USA), Matt Campbell (27, Australia), Mathieu Jaminet (28, France), and Felipe Nasr (30, Brazil). At the editorial deadline, the drivers chosen for the WEC were as follows: Michael Christensen (32, Denmark), Kévin Estre (34, France), André Lotterer (41, Germany), and Laurens Vanthoor (31, Belgium). Porsche will announce two more drivers and the cockpit combinations in early December at the Night of Champions. Teams of three are standard in the WEC, while two drivers share the cockpit in IMSA races. These will be assisted by a third driver at Road Atlanta (“Petit Le Mans,” 10 hours), in Sebring (12 hours), and in Daytona (24 hours).
paradoxal
the ring that cannot be
exclusively available from selected jewellers
The Team in Action
Eleven races in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and seven endurance races in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC): the tournament with the new Porsche 963 LMDh car takes Porsche Penske Motorsport to eight nations on three continents from January to November.
1
Florida, USA Race duration: 24 hours Course length: 3.56 miles
2
March 18, 2023 Sebring International Raceway
Florida, USA Race duration: 12 hours Course length: 3.74 miles
3
April 15, 2023 Long Beach Street Circuit
California, USA Race duration: 100 minutes Course length: 1.97 miles
4
May 14, 2023 WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
California, USA Race duration: 2 hours and 40 minutes Course length: 2.24 miles
5
June 25, 2023 Watkins Glen International
New York, USA Race duration: 6 hours Course length: 3.40 miles
6
July 9, 2023 Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
Clarington, Canada Race duration: 2 hours and 40 minutes Course length: 2.46 miles
7
July 22, 2023 Lime Rock Park
Connecticut, USA Race duration: 2 hours and 40 minutes Course length: 1.50 miles
8
August 6, 2023 Road America
Wisconsin, USA Race duration: 2 hours and 40 minutes Course length: 4.00 miles
9
August 27, 2023 Virginia International Raceway
Virginia, USA Race duration: 2 hours and 40 minutes Course length: 3.27 miles
10
September 17, 2023 Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indiana, USA Race duration: 2 hours and 40 minutes Course length: 2.44 miles
11
October 14, 2023 Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta
Georgia, USA Race duration: 10 hours Course length: 2.54 miles
1
March 17, 2023 Sebring International Raceway
Florida, USA Race distance: 1,000 miles Course length: 3.74 miles
2
April 16, 2023 Autódromo Internacional do Algarve
Portimão, Portugal Race duration: 6 hours Course length: 2.89 miles
3
April 29, 2023 Circuit of SpaFrancorchamps
Stavelot, Belgium Race duration: 6 hours Course length: 4.35 miles
4
June 10/11, 2023 Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans
Le Mans, France Race duration: 24 hours Course length: 8.47 miles
5
July 9, 2023 Autodromo Nazionale Monza
Monza, Italy Race duration: 6 hours Course length: 3.60 miles
6
September 10, 2023 Fuji Speedway
Oyama, Japan Race duration: 6 hours Course length: 2.83 miles
7
November 4, 2023 Bahrain International Circuit
Sakhir, Bahrain Race duration: 8 hours Course length: 3.36 miles
