German marque Porsche has officially unveiled the 919 Hybrid, with which it will return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans' LMP1 (Le Mans Prototype 1) category at the Geneva Motor Show along with showcasing its 911 RSR that competes in the GT category.
Porsche last competed for overall honours in sportscar racing and at Le Mans in 1998 with the 911 GT1.
The 919 Hybrid is powered by a 2.0 litre, V-4, turbocharged engine that is mated to a battery based hybrid system that utilizes energy recovery technologies similar to those seen in Formula 1 as well as in Audi's R18 e-tron Quattro, against which Porsche will compete at the famous 24 hour race along with Japan's Toyota this year.
In addition to storing kinetic energy in its battery-hybrid system, the 919 Hybrid also employs an exhaust based energy recovery system just like in the power units currently being used in F1.
Representing Porsche at the 24 Hours of Le Mans will be two three-driver teams, which will include former nine time F1 Grand Prix winner and world championship contender Mark Webber of Australia.
Webber had previously competed in sportscar racing and at Le Mans with Mercedes behind the wheel of the CLK GTR that famously flipped in the air both at the French endurance race and at Road Atlanta in the United States.
Porsche's return to endurance racing and Le Mans has been believed to be a source of tension between them and their fellow Volkswagen Group subsidiary Audi, which has dominated the event in recent times, scoring 12 overall victories.
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