The second-generation Porsche 919 Hybrid completed more than 4000km over the course of its first development test this week.
The first new 2015-spec World Endurance Championship challenger took part in a five-day test at the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi, starting last Sunday.
The test programme was led by LMP1 squad members Neel Jani and Timo Bernhard, but Nick Tandy and Frederic Makowiecki, who are expected to be confirmed in the third 919 for the Le Mans 24 Hours imminently, also drove the car together with new Porsche GT factory driver Earl Bamber.
Porsche also had a GTE class 911 RSR present at the test.
Porsche LMP1 vice-president Fritz Enzinger described the run as “a very successful start to the season” and “a very productive first test”.
Team principal Andreas Seidl said that the focus during the first half test had been on “checking all systems and components under race speed conditions”, following the new car’s shakedown at Porsche’s Weissach test track in mid-December.
“Halfway through the test we were able to begin to work on the car’s set-up, and towards the end we also managed to do longer runs,” he explained.
“Also tyre testing with Michelin was very productive: we have gathered lots of valuable data, which will be carefully analysed by our engineers over the following two weeks.”
Porsche will continue its test programme in Bahrain with another five-day test in early February at which Mark Webber, Romain Dumas, Brendon Hartley, Marc Lieb and Nico Hulkenberg will drive.
