Displacement must be at the heart of Porsche’s rationale, their motorsport divisions prototype for the
LMDh (Le Mans Daytona) will be used in the Hypercar class of the FIA World Endurance Championship from 2022 alongside Le Mans Hypercars. The prototype will race in the new Grand Touring Prototype class of the IMSA SportsCar Championship from 2023
Porsche LMDh prototype tested on their Weissach track (aka. The Track of Legends) with a twin-turbo V8 combustion engine that runs on renewable fuel and works together with an electric motor.
Toyota and Peugeot have decided to stick with smaller V6s. That doesn’t mean Porsche will have a more powerful machine since LMDh regulations state total output must not exceed 670.5 bhp.
Other restrictions include a minimum weight of 2,271 pounds and a fixed wheelbase of 124 inches; the cars must not be longer than 201 inches and broader than 79 inches. All vehicles will use a hybrid battery system developed by Williams Advanced Engineering and a Bosch electric motor capped at 67 bhp.
Additionally, the cost cap for one car without an engine is £835,000.
Porsche’s V8 runs on renewable fuels to cut CO2 emissions drastically and will rev to 10,000 rpm.
Porsche LMDh will use Multimatic chassis derived from LMP2 (Le Mans Prototype 2) is a racing car with no production minimum also required due to being used by Audi’s prototype, with Lamborghini possibly following in 2024.
Urs Kuratle, Overall Project Manager LMDh at Porsche Motorsport, says the combustion engine ‘impressed us in every respect, Porsche says that they have chosen precisely the right unit.’
The goal is to have the LMDh ready by the end of the year.
Porsche and Team Penske, two hugely successful racing teams with countless championship titles, have collaborated to form Porsche Penske Motorsport. They will run the car with the 2023 season in the FIA WEC World Endurance Championship and the North American IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.