After yesterday’s story coverage what we believe is a significant part of the Porsche #919Tribute ‘Farewell Tour’/ technology demo for their outgoing 919 Hybrid LMP1, we’re please to present a further set of images from DSC reader Carlo Bingen of the car testing at Spa with Neel Jani at the wheel.
The car has created something of a frenzy of opinions, generally divided into three camps:
1 – “It’s awesome!”
2 – “It’s awesome, but we would prefer they were still racing!”
3 – “It’s pointless!”
We’d align with Point 2 – and look forward to seeing just where, and by how much, the Porsche crew aim to take on their lap record challenge.
DSC also has audio of the car courtesy of Carlo, available below:
UPDATE: Adding to the shots and audio, here’s some video footage from twitter of the car from trackside from @Victor_Forner, clearly utilising a DRS system, powering from La Source, all the way through Radillon.
DSC has hand timed both the 919 and Lewis Hamilton’s 2017 Mercedes from its Pole lap, from the moment they clip the kerb on the exit of La Source, to the top of Radillon, revealing that the Porsche is roughly within half a second off the Mercedes.:
Porsche is using DRS on their 919 Tribute car @sportscar365 @dailysportscar @Mark_Whitelegge pic.twitter.com/gEJq6lw8Qd
— Víctor Forner (@Victor_Forner) April 9, 2018
UPDATE 2: Our friends over at Endurance Info have now reported that the Spa-Francorchamps lap record has been beaten by Porsche already, the 919 setting a 1:41.770 today.
