Porsche eyes new blood

Porsche is close to finalising its driver line-up for its return to top-flight sports car racing for the first time since 1998.

The German manufacturer has revealed that long-time Porsche factory driver Marc Lieb and former Red Bull Junior driver Brendon Hartley are the prime candidates for the vacant seats in its two-car line up for next year’s Le Mans 24 Hours and the full World Endurance Championship. Both were due to test the new Porsche LMP1 petrol-electric hybrid and look likely to be announced before the end of the year.

Porsche has revealed the first technical details of its 2014 Le Mans challenger. One of the two hybrid systems allowed on the car will be driven off the turbocharger in a similar way to the Motor Generator Unit-Heat system mandated in Formula 1 next year.

This confirms speculation that the car will be powered by a turbocharged engine, which is believed to be a four-cylinder unit.

Gary Watkins