Porsche starts active phase with LMDh project and shows more photos from test drives – Engine is also officially confirmed
The active testing phase has begun for Porsche and the Penske factory team. Following the rollout in mid-January, this means the ‘serious’ testing has begun, with the prototype set to be race-ready later in 2022. Porsche has also released further images of the Weissach car, showing it in camouflage
For the first time, Porsche is also officially talking about the drive unit of the yet-to-be-named LMDh bolide. As expected, it is a V8 turbo engine. Porsche thus indirectly confirms that the power unit, which will also be used in Audi’s LMDh prototype, is based on the EA825 engine or its predecessor EA824 from the Volkswagen Group.
This would also pave the way for Lamborghini to enter the LMDh category, as its architecture is also used in the Urus. In series production, it has a displacement of four litres and works with two twinscroll turbochargers. It is used in various vehicles in the Volkswagen range.
With the uniform basis of the LMDh vehicles for different brands, the Volkswagen Group can prove its modular principle from the series for the first time also in the Le Mans scene. In touring car racing, this has already been proven with the TCR cars from Volkswagen, Audi and Seat/Cupra.
“We were spoilt for choice when selecting the engine for our LMDh prototype because the product range offers several promising basic power units,” explains Thomas Laudenbach, Head of Porsche Motorsport.
“We opted for the V8 biturbo, which we believe offers the best combination in terms of performance characteristics, weight and cost. The start of the active test programme was an important step for the project.”
Urs Kuratle, overall LMDh project manager at Porsche Motorsport, added: “The rollout of the LMDh race car was also Porsche Penske Motorsport’s first track outing. The team worked well together right from the start. This proves the high level of professionalism of all areas involved. After all, the necessary operational requirements for the safe operation of a hybrid vehicle are very high. “
“In the next missions, the necessary processes and procedures can be further deepened. During these first test days in Weissach, the V8 biturbo convinced us in all respects. We are sure that we have chosen exactly the right power unit.”
Porsche also states facts about the LMDh engine regulations. For example, there is a rev limit of 10,000 revolutions per minute. The V8 biturbo will probably not have to exhaust this. The maximum volume is 110 decibels. The torque curve is fixed. Small naturally aspirated engines such as the 3.4-litre V8 from the RS Spyder are thus virtually ruled out, because they need far more than 10,000 revolutions for the required power.
The engine, including air intake and exhaust tract as well as the peripheral components for cooling, must weigh a minimum of 180 kilograms. If used, this also includes the turbocharger(s) including intercooling. Depending on the BoP, the system output is between 653 and 707 hp.
