The first aluminium 356 coupe had barely left the workshop of the former headquarters of the company in Gmund in Austria, but Porsche was already making headlines in national and international newspapers. In fifty years of experience, the Stuttgart company is proud of its achievements made in all four corners of the world. Three drivers titles and 25 wins with their engine in Formula 1 with McLaren, 20 wins at the 24 Hours of Daytona, 18 at Sebring, 4 wins at the Monte Carlo Rally and 15 in IMSA in the USA and 16 wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Porsche is preparing to return to the world of endurance racing in 2014, as they prepare to enter their new LM P1.

The heart of motorsport beats at its centre at Weissach (Germany). Since its completion in the autumn of 2007, this ultra modern complex is the nerve centre where all sporting decisions are made. Here, programmers, designers and engineers meet to prepare the sporting future of the brand. In Chassis workshops and powertrain construction, the 911 GT3s are built everyday and more than 800 new racing engines and gearboxes have left the factory.

After its successful launch in June on the test track at Weissach, the new Porsche LM P1, which has been completely newly designed, has continued to find its way througha series of functional tests. So for the first time last week, the Swiss former Rebellion Racing driver Neel Jani completed a few laps in the German secret weapon. Alongside him, Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas and Mark Webber will comprise the very strong team dedicated to this LM P1 project.

More than ever, motorsport flows in the veins of the German marque. Follow the history of this legend in this video. Commentary in English.

For more images : www.lemans-tv.com

Thierry Arman / ACO