For many Porsche enthusiasts, the announcement that the company will return to the top class of prototype racing in December 2020 was better than any Christmas present. The first images of the racer, which will be utilized by factory and client teams starting in 2023, were released a year later. Porsche, on the other hand, held a significant secret.
The Night of Champions is a racing Christmas celebration similar to Porsche’s. The Zuffenhausen-based company’s racing department traditionally congratulates the masters of their brand series, successful customer teams, and, of course, its inherently triumphant factory workers at this occasion. You normally have a present waiting at the end of the event, which is again virtual this year: first impressions of the new LMDh prototype in 2021.
From 2023, the new racing car will compete in the WEC Sports Car Championship and the North American IMSA SportsCar Championship for overall victories.
For the first time in over 30 years, it is feasible to compete in all three classics with the same car at Le Mans, Sebring, and Daytona. A potential that has recently sparked a lot of excitement in the industry.
Despite the fact that Porsche has almost 13 months until the first race at Daytona, time is of the essence. By the second half of the year, the 680 horsepower hybrid car from Bosch with standard technology must be mature enough to go through the homologation procedure.
Only then will the car be eligible to race in the WEC and IMSA. “In January, we will begin intense test drives in order to be best prepared for the 2023 competition,” says Motorsport chief Thomas Laudenbach.
The aim is clear: Porsche wants to win Le Mans for the 20th time overall.
Strong alliances and a proven track record.
In May, Porsche introduced Roger Penske’s squad as a works team. The 84-year-old American is one of the world’s most successful sports franchise owners. Victories at the Indy 500, the Daytona 24 Hours, and the Sebring 12 Hours are all on his letterhead. In 2008, he won the latter with Porsche. As a result, a fresh edition of the collaboration was an easy decision.
Dane Cameron and Felipe Nasr were presented as development and operational drivers during the Night of Champions. Cameron, a 33-year-old American, won the IMSA championship in 2016 and 2019. Nasr, a 29-year-old ex-Formula 1 driver from Brazil, won the title both last year and this year. The prototype project has been taken over by the Swiss Urs Kuratle.
The LMDh is built on a specialised Multimatic LMP2 chassis. Furthermore, cost-cutting laws specify a number of standard items that cannot be modified.
Above importantly, Porsche was given complete control over the engine and aerodynamics. It should be a V8 engine. At first appearance, Porsche was influenced by the previous GT1 vehicles when it came to the rear design. The initial iteration, released in 1996, had a long red ribbon with large bends.
During the presentation, the front was kept hidden. However, they’ve previously been alluded at in a rendering. The four-stripe deep-seated headlights, whose location is meant to be reminiscent of the Porsche 956, are stunning. The nose will lie flat, just like the American DPi racing cars on which the new regulations are based. The still-unnamed car’s wheel arches will protrude in the same way as the LMP1’s did at the time.
Porsche drew inspiration from prior racing vehicles when building the new prototype.
Is it Le Mans’ golden era?
Despite the fact that the LMDh racing vehicles are built on a distinct design, they will form a consistent top class with the already well-known hypercars starting in 2023. Toyota and Glickenhaus’ hypercars have already gotten off to a good start. Ferrari and Peugeot are presently working on their prototypes with more flexibility, according to ByKolles.
Even before the first joint race, there is a considerable choice of brands with the LMDh. The Volkswagen Group will now be represented by two brands, thanks to Audi; Lamborghini is even considering a third subsidiary. This is made feasible by the Porsche-shared LMDh’s technical foundation.
BMW is also something to look forward to from a German standpoint. For the time being, the LMDh of Bavaria will only compete in the American IMSA, as the US is BMW M’s most significant market.
There are projects from Acura, Honda’s premium brand, and Cadillac, GM’s rival. Alpine intends to follow suit in 2024 with an LMDh. Renault’s sports division still has a previous LMP1 car registered in the World Endurance Championship. However, it is uncertain if all of the manufacturers’ plans will be followed. Developer teams face significant time constraints due to delivery difficulties and the ongoing epidemic.
More images of the new Le Mans prototype may be found in our gallery.
Keyword: Porsche LMDH 2023: First Pictures Uncovered