919 hybrid - Le Mans: The Future of the Sports Car

Authors

W. Hatz, Member of the Executive Board – Research and Development, Dr. Ing. h. c. F. Porsche AG, Weissach

Year

2015

Print Info

Fortschritt-Berichte VDI, Reihe 12, Nr. 783

Summary

Le Mans, June 14, 1970. It’s absolutely bucketing down. Conditions on the circuit are extremely challenging and many cars drop out of the race. This will be the last race for Hans Herrmann after a long career, and in the end it will also be the greatest triumph ever achieved by the 42-year-old driver. At the wheel of the “race car of the century” – a red Porsche 917 short-tail with a 12-cylinder engine delivering 600 hp – Herrmann goes on to win the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans together with Richard Attwood from the UK. However, the race that marked the end of a successful career for Hermann also ushered in a new era of decades-long success for Porsche, as this fi rst overall victory in Le Mans was followed by 15 others between 1971 and 1998. In fi ve weeks, exactly 45 years after that fi rst triumph, Porsche will once again contest the legendary race in Le Mans on June 13 and 14, 2015. This is our second year back in the elite racing class.