The innovative Le Mans Prototype (LMP1) ran for two-and-half days at the former Formula One circuit of Magny-Cours in France. LMP1 drivers Brendon Hartley (New Zealand) and Marc Lieb (Germany) were on duty, as well as the Porsche GT works drivers Michael Christensen (Denmark) and Frédéric Makowiecki (France). Enjoying the continuous fine weather conditions, in total they covered 1903 kilometres with the team’s test car.

Christensen and Makowiecki in the 919 Hybrid

Michael Christensen and Frédéric Makowiecki first became acquainted with the 919 Hybrid last week in Weissach. There, a seat pan was custom-made for the GT drivers, and the LMP1 engineers explained the function of each switch in the cockpit. In addition, they had the chance to turn their first virtual laps with the innovative sports prototype in a simulator. In Magny-Cours they receive support from Porsche factory pilot Marc Lieb (Germany), who is also conducting tests over three days in France and can share valuable advice from his years of experience. Like his works driver colleague and compatriot Timo Bernhard, he too began his training to become a professional race driver as a Porsche junior. Today the pair are among the best sports car pilots in the world and are regulars in the 919 Hybrid at the Sports Car World Endurance Championship WEC and the Le Mans 24 Hours.

“Michael and Frédéric have earned themselves this chance with their performances in our works GT campaign,” says Porsche’s head of motorsport Hartmut Kristen. “I’m particularly pleased that Michael, as a graduate of our junior programme and now a works driver, has proven himself worthy for such a test. Once again, this underlines that our systematic and long-term youth development concept is working.”

Focus on improving race performance

Team Principal Andreas Seidl recapped: "We kept focussing on improving our race performance. After the introduction of our new aerodynamic package at the recent test at the EuroSpeedway, it was important for us to gain more experience with it on another racetrack with Marc and Brendon. Furthermore, we did set-up work on the car and the car’s systems, and, facing high temperatures in Texas, we have been evaluating a harder tyre compound from Michelin. Michael Christensen and Frédéric Makowiecki got used to the 919 Hybrid very quickly, were able to contribute to the programme and so we are very pleased with them. In terms of logistics, this test was a big challenge for us because, at the same time we were preparing and running the Magny-Cours test, we had to build up the two race cars for Austin and get underway with the airfreight to the US. We have made progress in almost every area since the Le Mans race, and we are ready for the second part of the season.”

The remaining five six-hour races will be in Austin (Texas, US) on 20th September, in Fuji (Japan) on 12th October, in Shanghai (China) on 2nd November, in Sakhir (Bahrain) on 15th November and São Paulo (Brazil) on 30th November.