First test drives of Porsche LMP1 race car

The countdown to the 2014 sports car racing season has begun. Following its successful launch in June on the company's test track in Weissach, near Stuttgart, the Porsche LMP1 (Le Mans Prototype 1) sports prototype race car - which has been completely redesigned - is working its way through a series of functional tests.

In the most recent test drives, Neel Jani (Switzerland) took the wheel for the very first time. The former Grand Prix test driver has been part of the pool of regular LMP1 drivers since 1^st July this year, and supports Timo Bernhard (Germany) and Romain Dumas (France) with the testing duties. The fourth driver is Australian Grand Prix ace Mark Webber, who will bolster the Porsche LMP1 team from 2014.

Next year, the Porsche LMP1 racing car will line up on the starting grid in the World Endurance Championship (WEC), and at the renowned 24 Hours of Le Mans.

"The current test drives are enabling us to collect huge amounts of vital data; every single kilometre driven is important. However, in order to develop the highly complex LMP1 racing car so that it is fit to compete by the start of next year's season, many more kilometres of testing are required," said Fritz Enzinger, Vice President of the LMP1 programme.

A new set of rules apply to the WEC for 2014, which are clearly focused on efficiency, and require the use of the latest hybrid drive technology. The aim of the new rules is to significantly reduce fuel consumption of the participating race cars. By following motorsport's lead, the development of each and every future Porsche vehicle can also benefit from these development breakthroughs.