72 replies to this topic

[GSiebert]

The new Porsche LMP1

[Victor_RO]

All the makings of the start of a different discussion to Le Mans 2013, therefore split.

First impressions on the car: Porsche Moustache R18 with manga-inspired headlights.

[muramasa]

look like Audi-Toyota hybrid

[dau]

Oooh, they put different headlights on that R18.

[Victor_RO]

Oooh, they put different headlights on that R18.

And squeezed it by about 5 cm either side. Funnily enough, apart from going back to the full-width rear wing, the car doesn't seem visually to be that much narrower than the 2013 LMP1s, the F1 width reduction in 1997-1998 was really visible.

[muramasa]

And squeezed it by about 5 cm either side. Funnily enough, apart from going back to the full-width rear wing, the car doesn't seem visually to be that much narrower than the 2013 LMP1s, the F1 width reduction in 1997-1998 was really visible.

hm, come to think, this car looks somewhat taller (coz of reduced width) and cockpit is bit more conspicuous compared to current LMP1 cars.
Current cars look better

[lustigson]

Any info on its type designation?

[Victor_RO]

Any info on its type designation?

No info on designation and powertrain apart from the fact that it's a petrol engine... but there's still 7-8 months to reveal it all until the car actually makes its debut in a race.

Porsche did say that this shakedown run was actually AHEAD of schedule. MASSIVE respect to them for achieving that.

[Fulcrum]

The new Audi Porshe is looking good.

[Jimisgod]

Webber's new car.

Much better than the RBR anyway.

[ApexMouse]

Looks like the R18 crossed with that 'lotus' P2.

[Haribo]

They should run it with that "Hypnotoad" livery

[Victor_RO]

They should run it with that "Hypnotoad" livery

What do you mean? There's nothing hypnotic, mesmerizing or mind-altering abou-ALL GLORY TO THE HYPNOPORSCHE

[Markn93]

What do you mean? There's nothing hypnotic, mesmerizing or mind-altering abou-ALL GLORY TO THE HYPNOPORSCHE

[SonnyViceR]

R18 2.0 with Porkie front shapes and headlights.

[Nemo1965]

I have to say: in this color scheme, at this angle, with this wide picture....

That is the meanest, most intimidating race-car I have ever seen. If I would drive at Le Mans in a GT car and that came to lap me I would be out of the way by virtue of parking my car on the grass..

[proviz]

Obviously they don't want to give too much away, what with the paintwork and deliberate angles, but from what I can see - disappointing! It just looks, well, clumsy. There must be something we can't appreciate from these pics.

[Lemans]

I don't understand the comments people are making about the car being an R18. It shares absolutely nothing with the Audi nor does it even look anything like it. The Porsche was designed under the new 2014 regs.
They won't be sharing power plants nor chassis. The teams are completely independent.

[Lemans]

Obviously they don't want to give too much away, what with the paintwork and deliberate angles, but from what I can see - disappointing! It just looks, well, clumsy. There must be something we can't appreciate from these pics.

It looks very 'standard' right now however there is still several months of development ahead and the car will surely change.

[Lemans]

hm, come to think, this car looks somewhat taller (coz of reduced width) and cockpit is bit more conspicuous compared to current LMP1 cars.
Current cars look better

New regs regarding front roll hoop height (+30mm higher) and drivers seating position means the 2014 cars will be taller. The main reason is for a better visibility out of the cockpit.

Edited by Lemans, 13 June 2013 - 05:58.

[dau]

I don't understand the comments people are making about the car being an R18. It shares absolutely nothing with the Audi nor does it even look anything like it. The Porsche was designed under the new 2014 regs.
They won't be sharing power plants nor chassis. The teams are completely independent.

Well it does share some visual similarities with the R18. It has basically the same wide, bulky and high nose shape with that long slot for electronics cooling for example. Doesn't mean that it also shares any parts or was designed after the R18 of course, but just compare it with the Perinn and the Dome concepts.

[Ali_G]

The new Porsche is visually similar to the R18 alright. Of the designs I've seen so far, the Dome S103 is the most elegant. Would want to see it as a fully built car instead of a model before commenting further though.

Edited by Ali_G, 13 June 2013 - 09:47.

[BRG]

The thing is that modern design is so computer-led that if you input all the parameters and get the right answer (as Audi have consistently done), then anyone else who also does the same and gets the right answer is going to have a very similar product to yours. Porsche have traditionally had the right answer when it came to racers so there we are. Take the current F1 grid and line them up in plain white livery with no identification, and you will be barely able to tell one from another.

Porsche have a huge legacy in this sort of racing. Their corporate pride would never let them simply copy Audi.

Edited by BRG, 13 June 2013 - 14:29.

[Ross Stonefeld]

True, but I do prefer when they looked a little more like

[lustigson]

True, but I do prefer when they looked a little more like

Those did look great, indeed... but they were in fact GT. On steroids, maybe, but still GTs. Hence the road car resemblance.

[Ross Stonefeld]

Yeah but I liked when one of the top classes at Le Mans was a crazy GT car. And as cool as the Toyota GT-One was, it really took us down the current route where without paint there really aren't identifying features to the Audi/Peugeot/Toyota/Porsche.

[lustigson]

Yeah but I liked when one of the top classes at Le Mans was a crazy GT car. And as cool as the Toyota GT-One was, it really took us down the current route where without paint there really aren't identifying features to the Audi/Peugeot/Toyota/Porsche.

That way they're really just F1 cars with a roof and wheel arches.

[Ali_G]

IMO, the 1996 and 1997 Porsche 911's were GT cars.

The 1998 car really stretched the meaning of what was a GT car.


BTW, can anyone remind me of the story regarding either Toyota or Mercedes and a loop hole over the requirement to have a boot space in the GT category ?

[lustigson]

The 1998 car really stretched the meaning of what was a GT car.

Fully agreed.

[Victor_RO]

BTW, can anyone remind me of the story regarding either Toyota or Mercedes and a loop hole over the requirement to have a boot space in the GT category ?

Mercedes said the boot space was some unused cubbyhole deep in the engine compartment... Toyota said the boot space was the fuel tank.

[Ali_G]

Mercedes said the boot space was some unused cubbyhole deep in the engine compartment... Toyota said the boot space was the fuel tank.

Ah yes. The fuel tank explanation by Toyota was something else.

[Ross Stonefeld]

The 98 Porsche at least looks like a Porsche. The Toyota was 'out there'. As I recall the front wheels were exposed on the inboard side.

[Ali_G]

The 98 Porsche at least looks like a Porsche. The Toyota was 'out there'. As I recall the front wheels were exposed on the inboard side.

Would be nice if the ACO could mandate certain rules simply to improve the look of the cars.

A nice start would be mandating the location of holes in the bodywork. Say no cooling channel exists on the top of the car. Wheels can only be open on the outside of the car. The gap at the sides of the cars in the bodywork, behind the front wheels, started out quite small. It has now transformed into someone much greater with the bodywork covering the front wheels almost being completely separate to the rest of the car. Just doesn't look right.

[muramasa]

New regs regarding front roll hoop height (+30mm higher) and drivers seating position means the 2014 cars will be taller. The main reason is for a better visibility out of the cockpit.

thanks, that makes sense.

i found that actually if compare the 2 cars side by side the difference isnt so negligible.

low and nice


tall and cramped


new porsche is early development model but overall proportion wont change. current config looks better should get used to tho.

[BigCHrome]

I think the Porsche looks better than the current cars, however neither are anywhere near as pleasing to the eye as old GTP/Gr.C cars. One big pet peeve is the stupid shark fin.

[Afterburner]

Mercedes said the boot space was some unused cubbyhole deep in the engine compartment... Toyota said the boot space was the fuel tank.

Best. Rule dodge. Ever.

[GSiebert]

The cars would look so much better already without the stupid and useless sharkfin.

[Ali_G]

The cars would look so much better already without the stupid and useless sharkfin.

Eventhough I hate it as much as anyone else, its been proven in the wind tunnel and CFD analysis to reduce the risk of cars getting airborne.

[MikeV1987]

f**king awesome, are you sure you don't want to drive that Mr. Webber?

Edited by MikeV1987, 14 June 2013 - 08:33.

[proviz]

To me, the most important aspect in the looks of a Le Mans car is that it should reflect progress in aerodynamic thinking. Channeling the airflow between front wheels and chassis helps the aerodynamics, so that should be seen in a car's shape. Aesthetics do matter, but must always come second. Anything harking back to the old days just makes the concept less pure and confuses the issue.

[GSiebert]

Eventhough I hate it as much as anyone else, its been proven in the wind tunnel and CFD analysis to reduce the risk of cars getting airborne.

Yeah just like the Toyota last year. As soon as the car was sideways it took off like a sheet of paper.

Edited by GSiebert, 14 June 2013 - 09:22.

[Woody3says]

True, but I do prefer when they looked a little more like

You just knew that the car would not look significantly different from its sister Audi (that whole cfd thing.....) but I HAD hoped she would have ^ THOSE ^ style headlamps! Make even a slight resemblence to a true Porsche

Let the games begin, cant wait till next year already

[Woody3says]

Yeah just like the Toyota last year. As soon as the car was sideways it took off like a sheet of paper.

REDUCE not eliminate

[GSiebert]

REDUCE not eliminate

It didn't reduce anything.

[Victor_RO]

It didn't reduce anything.

The Toyota was going at just about 320 kph when it got smacked by the Ferrari, that was far beyond design limits. Look at the Audi crashes at Le Mans the year before, those cars also had the fin and went sideways, and before hitting the wall both cars stayed on the ground. The fin and fender holes raise the speed beyond which a sideways moment causes a flip.

[V3TT3L]

[Ali_G]

That angle makes it look a bit like a 962, although a lot of that is down to the camouflage paint job hiding the aero detail.

[biercemountain]

They should run it with that "Hypnotoad" livery

I…will…obey…

Edited by biercemountain, 14 June 2013 - 15:58.

[r4mses]

if they'd offer these black-white-development-mule-liveries for ordinary road cars, i might actually buy one of these - just to fool everyone

[Afterburner]

I…will…obey…

What's more bizarre than the livery is the fact that the car looks two-dimensional in a three-dimensional world.