2016 Porsche 919 Hybrid LMP1 Racer
This is Porsche’s new Le Mans contender,
the 2016 919 Hybrid LMP1 racer designed to meet the new regulations of the WEC
racing series.
Porsche is the only manufacturer this
year that chose to compete in the 8 Megajoules class, FIA’s highest
recuperation category which restricts the amount of used fuel per lap to 4.31
liters in petrol and 3.33 liters in diesel-powered race cars.
This means that the new Porsche 919
Hybrid’s turbocharged 2.0-litre V4 engine will now drop its output to below
500 hp, with engineers looking for other ways to generate more power from less
fuel.
Porsche is using two energy recuperation
systems in the 919 Hybrid, with the front-mounted converting braking into
electric power and the rear mounted on the exhaust tract where the exhaust
gasses drive a second turbine in parallel with the turbocharger, using the
excess energy from the exhaust pressure that would otherwise escape into the
environment.
This additional turbine is connected to
an electric generator which stores the produced energy in a lithium-ion battery
pack. It’s an innovative adaptation of the variable turbine geometry technology
which allows the turbines to be driven, even at low engine revs and low
pressure.
All the electric power produced -the
front KERS and the rear exhaust turbine- is applied to the front axle when the
driver need it, providing an extra 400 hp and turning temporarily the 919 Hybrid
into an all-wheel drive race car with around 900 hp.
