Porsche has started testing its new LMDh prototype set to compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, confirming that it sports a twin-turbocharged V8. All entrants in the WEC’s ‘Hypercar’ class must feature a hybrid powertrain that produces no more than 680 PS but competitors can choose what kind of combustion engine they use. For example, the Toyota GR010 has a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6. Porsche has kept many details relating to twin-turbo V8 under wraps, other than confirming that it will be a “large-capacity” engine that’s designed to run on renewable fuels.
The German car manufacturer has confirmed the race car will
also feature a battery supplied by Williams Advanced Engineering, a
motor-generator unit and control electronics from Bosch, and a transmission
sourced from Xtrac. The chassis will come from Multimatic. To comply with
regulations, the engine must weigh a minimum of 180 kg, including the
air supply and exhaust system, as well as all cooling components.
These images, as well as recent teaser photos, reveal that
Porsche’s new LMDh prototype has a bold exterior design that incorporates a
large aerodynamic shark fin, a pronounced roof scoop, and a large rear wing
with thin LED lights.
The car is scheduled to make its racing debut at the 2023 24
Hours of Daytona next January.
