The one-off Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo has just set a
new outright lap record at Spa-Francorchamps. With factory driver Neel Jani
behind the wheel, the unrestrained and unrestricted 919 Hybrid Evo lapped the
circuit in 1:14.770 minutes, a hefty 0.783 seconds quicker than the
record-setting pole lap set by Lewis Hamilton at last year’s Belgian Grand Prix.
What’s equally remarkable about this time is that it is 12 seconds faster than
the pole-setting lap set by the ‘regular’ 919 last year.
During the lap, Jani reached a top speed of 359 km/h and had an average speed of 245.61 km/h. Remarkably,
Porsche is apparently targeting an ultimate lap time of 1:36 minutes around the
famed circuit.
The Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo started life as last
year’s Le Mans-winning prototype. Free of technical regulations, its
turbocharged V4 engine now delivers 720 hp and the hybrid system provides an
additional 440 hp. A plethora of modifications have also seen downforce rise by
53 per cent over the ‘regular’ 919. All up, it produces more downforce than a
Formula One car and weighs just under a ton with Jani on board.
Things won’t stop here for the 919 Hybrid Evo. The
car will complete a ‘demo lap’ at the Nurburgring on May 12, make appearances
at the Goodwood Festival of Speed and the Festival of Porsche in Brands Hatch,
and later participate at the Porsche Rennsport Reunion in Laguna Seca in late
September.
