Porsche's first stop with the 919 Hybrid EVO on the #919Tribute Tour that commenced last month was Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, where it proceeded beat Lewis Hamilton's outright lap record at the track, set in his Mercedes-AMG W07 Hybrid F1 car.
Porsche is on an international tour with a modified version of their 919 Hybrid, to showcase the car's true potential if not limited by FIA WEC rules. The 875kg car features some new active aerodynamics, as well as more power from its ERS-equipped 2.0T V4, which is now producing around 540kw from its combustion engine alone, up from 368kw, while the electric motor adds a further 330kw, for a combined 870kw.
Their next stop for the tribute tour was the Nürburgring, where many hoped that the Stuttgart-based automaker would attempt a lap record to beat the lap record they have held since 1983, when Stefan Bellof lapped the fabled 20.8km race track in a stunning 6:11.13 at the wheel of a Porsche 956.
However, instead of attempting to beat their 35 year old record, Porsche opted to do something a little more special, and brought along their iconic 956 C for a tandem run around the Nurburgring, with Timo Bernhard and Hans-Joachim Stuck driving the legendary cars. The result was one of the most beautiful sights ever seen on a race track.
The 919 Tribute Tour will make its way to the Goodwood Festival of Speed on July 12-15, followed by the Brands Hatch Festival of Porsche on September 2nd, and ending at the Porsche Rennsport Reunion VI at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on September 26-29.
Also worth a look: the Porsche Dives In: The Electric Boat with Macan Turbo Power and the Porsche raises the bar with their all-new powerful Taycan. .
FAQ
Q: What is the Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo and how much power does it make?
The Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo is a modified version of Porsche's WEC race car that's no longer bound by FIA regulations, producing a combined 870kW from its 2.0T V4 engine (540kW) and electric motor (330kW), making it significantly more powerful than the original race-spec version.
Q: Can you buy a Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo in South Africa?
No, the Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo is not for sale to the public in South Africa or anywhere else, as it's a one-off demonstration car built specifically for Porsche's tribute tour and track demonstrations.
Q: What lap record does the Porsche 956 hold at the Nurburgring?
Stefan Bellof set the legendary Nurburgring lap record of 6:11.13 in a Porsche 956 back in 1983, a record that stood for 35 years and remains one of motorsport's most impressive achievements on the 20.8km Nordschleife.
Q: Where can I see the Porsche 919 Tribute Tour?
The Porsche 919 Tribute Tour includes stops at Goodwood Festival of Speed (July 12-15), Brands Hatch Festival of Porsche (September 2nd), and ends at Porsche Rennsport Reunion VI at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca (September 26-29).
Q: Is the Porsche 919 Hybrid faster than a Formula 1 car?
Yes, the 919 Hybrid Evo proved it can be faster than F1 cars by beating Lewis Hamilton's lap record at Spa-Francorchamps, which was set in his Mercedes-AMG W07 Hybrid F1 car.
Should You Buy It?
You can't buy it, simple as that. The Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo is a pure demonstration machine that exists solely to show what Porsche can achieve when the rule book gets tossed out the window. If you're after proper Porsche performance you can actually own in South Africa, look at the current 911 range starting around R2,500,000 or wait for the all-electric Taycan which promises serious performance with a cleaner conscience. This 919 Evo will remain a beautiful dream machine that reminds us why we fell in love with motorsport in the first place.
