Timo Bernhard gave Porsche’s brand new LMP1 car its first laps as he completed initial checks for the car that will represent the manufacturer in next year’s FIA World Endurance Championship.
The German, who currently drives in the WEC for Porsche works LMGTE Pro team, gave the new coupe design an outing around the test track at Weissach, watched by the board of Porsche AG, several weeks ahead of schedule.
“I was involved in the development of the new car right from the outset,” said Bernhard. “I’m very proud that I was the one to take our baby through its first paces today. Already now the car feels great. I look forward to testing the vehicle in the coming weeks and months with my friend and colleague Romain Dumas.”
“We are well on schedule,” says Fritz Enzinger, head of team responsible for the new car. “Our newly formed team has worked with utmost concentration on getting this highly complex vehicle on the track as soon as possible. This allows us a few additional weeks for more testing and further development. From 2014, the regulations are primarily based on efficiency. This makes the competition amongst engineers more interesting and presents us with completely new challenges.”
For both Bernhard and Dumas the next task is the 24 Hours of Le Mans as part of the Porsche AG Team Manthey squad. The pair will continue the testing of the new LMP1 design will continue with running planned on a variety of international circuits.
