Photo : Achim HARTMANN - Porsche AG

 

Last June, a few days before the 90th anniversary edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, racing fans from around the world were treated to the very first photos of the new prototype. Six months later, the Porsche 919 hybrid was officially named and the six drivers who will pilot the most anticipated car of the 2014 season were announced: Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas, Brendon Hartley, Neel Jani, Marc Lieb and Mark Webber.

Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas and Marc Lieb : the Stuttgart experts – With the 911, this trio of highly experienced Porsche factory drivers claimed four 24 Hours of the Nürburgring victories. Driving the RS Spyder alongside Emmanuel Collard, Bernhard and Dumas took the win at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 2008, the last international win for a Porsche prototype, the LM P2 beating the Audi R10 TDI and Peugeot 908 HDi FAP. Two years later, this time sharing an Audi R15 TDI "Plus" with Mike Rockenfeller, the pair won the 24 Hours of Le Mans, establishing a new distance record in the process. In 2013, Romain Dumas and Marc Lieb, with Richard Lietz, gave the 911 the LM GTE Pro class win at Le Mans.

Mark Webber, Neel Jani and Brendon Hartley : Red Bull transfers– With Mark Webber's arrival, Porsche secured the talents of a former Red Bull F1 driver with nine wins and 13 pole positions from 2007 to 2013. He is quick, charismatic, popular with fans and loves Le Mans. Former Red Bull young drivers Neel Jani and Brendon Hartley have their futures ahead of them. Jani was announced as factory Porsche driver after forming half of the solid Rebellion Racing pair with Nicolas Prost. While Hartley makes the leap to LM P1 thanks to Porsche after impressing in LM P2 at Murphy Prototypes.

Top technical expertise – In addition to Mark Webber, Neel Jani and Brendon Hartley, technical director Alexander Hitzinger also comes from Red Bull, where he oversaw technology advances. Although little is yet known about the 919 hybrid, it is clear that the car will be a balance between F1 technology and Porsche know-how in endurance racing. With Marc Lieb, the Stuttgart marque has at its disposal a driver/engineer unlike many others, a sort of contemporary Jürgen Barth, winner at Le Mans in 1977 with the 936.

All that remains to be known is the exact driver lineups in the two 919 hybrid entries for the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the FIA World Endurance Championship. The official presentation will undoubtedly give us more details but this lineup of drivers is sure to impress and make 2014 an exciting year!

For more information about Porsche at Le Mans see the marque's official microsite Mission 2014 – Our Return.

Jean-Philippe Doret / ACO - Translated by Rainier Ehrhardt / ACO

Photo : WEISSACH (BADE-WURTEMBERG, GERMANY), PORSCHE RESEARCH CENTER, SATURDAY, DEC. 14, 2013, NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS. The six Porsche 919 hybrid drivers, from left : Mark Webber, Romain Dumas, Neel Jani, Timo Bernhard, Marc Lieb and Brendon Hartley.