Enough of Champions - Le Mans 90's to Now

Opponents seek results, Porsche creates history. Teams chased champions only when Porsche retired, and after taking ten years off, there is still no one stops the returnee from winning.

The Le Mans victories in poster form

Together with Dauer, Porsche built a street-legal version of the 962, which allowed this group C car to be eligible for a GT race at Le Mans 24 Hours in 1994. The Dauer did not handle it well, and Toyota was even slightly faster, but Porsche still received its 13th victory due to its higher efficiency. However, FIA adjusted rules soon to cover this loophole, which brought the end of the 962.

Dauer 962 at Le Mans 1994

Dauer 962 at Le Mans 1994

Joest team won twice with Porsche WSC-95 in 1996 and 1997. As the wrong Porsche won the race, the official Porsche team did not feel very happy, until it built the 911 GT1 into a race-winning car in 1998, after having spent significant time, effort and money. The 911 GT1 looks like a spaceship from another planet, and this reliable spaceship finally won among faster cars from Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Toyota.

Porsche 911 GT1

When looking at the history of Le Mans, Porsche seemed to be disappeared from the summer it won, and when it came back to the race, it was already 2014.

No more familiar references, Porsche had to start from scratch. Giving up previous thoughts and frameworks, Porsche built and upgraded the 919 Hybrid with a 2-litre V4 turbocharged engine, produces an output of more than 490 horsepower, while the others were still using 6 or 8 cylinders. It also had an electric motor with over 400 horsepower. The efficiency-driven design and the energy restoring system allowed more laps between pit stops. Porsche's first win in 17 years came in just the second year of the 919 Hybrid's launch, also ended Audi's streak, and it kept unbeatable in the following two years, 2016 and 2017.

Porsche 911 Hybrid 2015

Porsche 911 Hybrid 2016

Porsche 911 Hybrid 2017

Porsche 911 Hybrid 2017 at Le Mans

However, Porsche might be bored with champions again so decided to quit. It then made an Evo version and set a new record at Nürburgring. We may see F1 cars with Porsche's engine in 2021 since it is looking for more challenges. 



Some Porsche's Posters:

References

Porsche at Le Mans 2017

Le Mans - winning 911 GT1 '98 in action

919 Hybrid: Even Stronger in 2015

The Greatest Le Mans Victories, In Poster Form

19th overall win for Porsche in Le Mans