Porsche Team’s batteries fully charged for the finale

Stuttgart. “Ignition on, hybrid on” - on November 30 at 13:00 local time it will be the final call for the 2014 Porsche 919 Hybrid. That day the first Le Mans prototype since Porsche’s return to the top class of the FIA World Endurance Championship will start the eighth and final round in São Paulo, Brazil. Once again the challenge is a six-hour race, and to find the best possible compromise of performance, efficiency and reliability for the most technically advanced hybrid car on the grid will be crucial.

Along with the power from the two-litre, turbo four cylinder engine, the Porsche recuperates brake energy from the front axle and generates electrical power from the exhaust energy. The latter of the systems makes it the only LMP1 car that regains energy not only when braking, but also when accelerating.

The driver trios of Romain Dumas (France), Neel Jani (Switzerland) and Marc Lieb (Germany) as well as Timo Bernhard (Germany), Brendon Hartley (New Zealand) and Mark Webber (Australia) will have to go flat out for another six hours, every lap at sprint race pace.

Quotes before the race:

Fritz Enzinger, Vice President LMP1: “For Porsche a successful LMP1 debut season comes to an end in São Paulo. We can be proud of having achieved three pole positions and five podium finishes with such a complex race car in such strong competition. Even more important for the future: The way we improved race by race shows that we’ve got the structures right. This goes for the technical concept, as well as for the driver line-up and the operational side with a team growing so well together. We have learnt from every situation and tried our utmost to reduce the competition’s advantage in terms of experience. In case a small opportunity would open up to climb on the next and final step of the podium in Brazil, we want to be ready to take it.”

Drivers car number 14

Romain Dumas (36, France): “For our team and the Porsche 919 Hybrid São Paulo is unknown territory. This is another big challenge for the finale on a circuit that all drivers love. For sure the set-up work in free practice will be difficult. I think it is good for the championship that we race on such a famous Formula One circuit. Interlagos has seen a lot of rain chaos in the past. If it stays dry it is comfortable for the spectators. But I think our team could rather benefit from rain.”

Neel Jani (30, Switzerland): “I have driven Formula One and LMP1 race cars in São Paulo, and it will be interesting to see whether the new tarmac now has more or less grip than before. I think this track should suit us. Due to its altitude at 800 metres above sea level, our turbo engine has an advantage over the normally aspirated engines, as they lose a bit of power because of the lower air density. For us the most difficult part will be the winding middle sector. If we get that right a good result should be possible.”

Marc Lieb (34, Germany): “I am very much looking forward to race in São Paulo again. The track is really cool – one of the beautiful old-school circuits with a unique character and a great atmosphere. Also I always found it had a nice flow. In recent years we have been there in August when it was rather chilly. But once I took part in the 1000-mile race in November and I remember it was very hot. The old track surface was quite abrasive for the tyres and I can’t wait to learn about the new tarmac. But anyway, for our car everything is new in Interlagos.”

Drivers car number 20

Timo Bernhard (33, Germany): “It will be my first time in São Paulo and I’m looking forward to getting there, and also because the Brazilians are such big motorsport fans. I have heard lots of positive things about this historic circuit. We have proven several times this year that we know how to cope with tracks that are new to us. Interlagos belongs to the some 30 per cent of circuits where you drive anti-clockwise. The fast left-handers will have an impact on the body, especially on the neck, and we will do extra training beforehand.”

Brendon Hartley (25, New Zealand): “I have never been to Brazil, but I have driven the circuit many times on the simulator and watched it on TV. I think it is a track everyone knows from Formula One on TV. I’m quite excited about going there and racing at such a famous venue, and I have the feeling the track should be quite good for our car, our hybrid systems and technology. So far we have been improving at every race and, therefore, this last event must offer the best chances for a good result. I’m optimistic.”

Mark Webber (38, Australia): “I always enjoyed driving there in Formula One. With the Grand Prix wins in 2009 and 2011, I have some very special memories of the place. The atmosphere is electric with the fans being very close to the track, different to modern circuits where the grandstands are farther away. At 4.3 kilometres it means it is a small circuit and the WEC is a huge grid. It is a little bit of a shame they resurfaced the track, because the bumps were a special challenge that is taken away now. I think the 919 will like the track and, hopefully, we can push for our best result of the year there.“

Porsche