Porsche: The hybrid works!

Comme à Petit Le Mans, la Porsche GT3 R Hybrid a pris le départ des 1000 km de Zhuhaï sans pouvoir prétendre à un quelconque accessit final, les voitures mues par une telle technologie ne correspondant pas au règlement actuel de l?ACO. Mais le club organisateur des 24 Hours of Le Mans would have been wrong to do without such a machine for the last two rounds of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup. This is why the decision was made to invite the GT3 R Hybrid to the party.

On the occasion of the Chinese stage of the ILMC, the car was entrusted to the outgoing double ALMS champions in GT2, namely the American Patrick Long and the German Jorg Bergmeister. From the tests, the GT3 R Hybrid showed itself to be formidable in efficiency. Capable of completing the 4,319 km of the Chinese route (which suits it very well, it must be admitted) in 1, it was only beaten by one car in the Grand Touring category: a Lamborghini Murciélago GT33.

At the end of a race during which it demonstrated exemplary reliability, the Zuffenhausen manufacturer's weapon took the checkered flag in sixth position, completing three laps more than the GT3-winning BMW M92 E2.

“The first race in China of the 911 GT3 R Hybrid was a complete success, jubilant Hartmut Kristen, CEO of Porsche Motorsport. The car reached the finish without experiencing the slightest technical problem. The team?s excellent pit stops and the fantastic performance of the drivers also contributed to this success. The development work on the hybrid system that we have carried out since Road Atlanta has borne fruit. Today we have shown the potential of this technology quite impressively. The result is increased motivation to continue working on this project. It was certainly not the last race for the 911 GT3 R Hybrid.

As for the drivers, they finished the race with smiles on their faces, delighted to have had the opportunity to drive such a machine in a race.

“Our car worked perfectly from the first to the last lap, says Bergmeister. It was another super test for the hybrid system in real racing conditions, with the best conclusion imaginable.”

“We had the most efficient and fastest GT, continues Pat Long. This is Porsche Intelligent Performance.

It remains to be seen when a car equipped with such technology will grace the starting grid for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Will the Porsche 911 GT 3 Hybrid come to occupy the famous 56th stand on the Le Mans circuit next June? Unless Audi or Peugeot not let yourself be tempted by adventure? An interesting challenge, which would prove once again that endurance is a true technological showcase, as ACO leaders often repeat?

Find the full report of the Zhuhai 1000 km in your AUTOhebdo magazine on newsstands tomorrow, and the exclusive test of the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid in the special issue Porsche AUTOhebdo, currently on sale.