There were issues today for the #2 Porsche in Free Practice 1 (replacement of the high voltage battery, leading to warning for non-operational FIA telemetry) and for the #8 Audi in Free Practice 2 (“failure of the front axle drivetrain”).
Porsche meanwhile have given more information on the new (and much larger) headlamp array in the Low Downforce configuration car, Jens Maurer, Head of Systems at the Porsche Team, names the key factors: “We have managed to improve the performance regarding the range of lighting to the side as well as the reach to the front. We have saved almost 30 per cent of weight, made the fitting easier and optimised the cooling.”
The system is equipped with the latest and handpicked LEDs from Osram and features three different modes of operation: pencil beam (ultra long distance light), main beam and side beam. Twelve pairs of LEDs and reflectors per headlight unit are split into seven individually controlled strings for long distance and cornering light. The control unit is integrated into the headlights. At an angle of 45 degrees, the side light performance matches the quality of a good dipped-beam headlamp of a road going car. The flashing light is operated as a switchover between maximum and reduced operation mode of the LEDs.
In addition, each headlight has 20 of so called RGB-LEDs (RGB stands for the red-green-blue colour space) to make the two cars identifiable. The number 1 Porsche 919 Hybrid is illuminated in magenta, the number 2 car can be recognised by its blue light.
Compared to 2015, the number of LEDs has been doubled while the weight of each headlight unit was reduced by 1.1 kilograms. The new headlight is fitted as a single component now. The pre-adjustment of the reflectors inside the headlight saves the fine-tuning procedure after fitting. The cooling is from air that is channelled in from outside.
The #4 ByKolles CLM suffered engine problems in FP1 but the team completed remedial work in time for the car to complete the whole of FP2.
Ferrari took the lead in the all-time (since the WEC’s inception in 2012) class winning total stakes at Silverstone (the double win in GTE Pro and Am taking Ferrari’s total to 24 class wins agains Aston Martin’s 23 and Porsche’s 22)
Ferrari’s record of overall race starts in the FIA WEC should though be equalled on Saturday, Ferrari’s total currently stands at 176, with three Ferraris on the entry that should rise to 179. Porsche sit on 173 but with their pair of LMP1s and four 911 RSRS on the entry they too should leave Spa with 179 starts!
The current Le Mans entry though should see Porsche move up to 188 with Ferrari on 187 (with nine Porsches listed to Ferrari’s eight) though any further drop-out from the entry would see the JMW Ferrari 458 enter into the equation!
