Andreas Seidl: “More limited room for maneuver than Toyota” in 2017

From a three-way match since 2014, the LM P1 category will return to a duel in 2017 following the announcement of Audi Sport's withdrawal following the Bahrain final in just over a week. Once again crowned among manufacturers, the brand Porsche confirmed its domination over the WEC in 2016, a year also marked by victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the finale which has now become legendary with the Toyota TS50 Hybrid n°5.

The team led by Andreas Seidl, who still has to challenge for the Drivers' title with the No. 919 2 Hybrid of Neel Jani, Romain Dumas and Marc Lieb in Sakhir, is also looking towards 2017, a season that the Porsche Team Principal is approaching with confidence. , but also distrust.

“Given what we have planned in terms of modifications (to the 919), I think we will be competitive. But, we don't know how much progress the Toyota will make. It is true that our room for maneuver is certainly more limited than theirs.

Our car (2015 monocoque) is finishing its second season, while theirs is only in its first. But with the arrival of a new regulation in 2018, for us it was the best way to do it. »

Before the Shanghai round, Porsche quickly confirmed that Audi's withdrawal did not call into question its commitment for the 2017 season.

Find the full interview with Andreas Seidl, as well as the report and analysis of the 6 Hours of Shanghai, carried out by our special correspondents in China, in issue 2088 of AUTOhebdo, now available in digital version, and on newsstands.