Porsche reveals dual fix for hybrid issues at Daytona 24 Hours

Porsche has revealed that it resolved the hybrid points that blighted the 963 LMDh forward of its victory in final weekend’s Daytona 24 Hours with a twin repair.

Porsche Penske Motorsport defined {that a} combination of adjustments to procedures and the fitment of outdated components from final season allowed its pair of GTP entries to run by means of the IMSA SportsCar Championship season-opener to first and third positions with out points.

The 2 PPM 963s had been amongst a number of automobiles throughout the 12-car IMSA GTP area troubled by means of the pre-event Roar check after which follow and qualifying by what was described as a high-voltage downside.

PPM managing director Jonathan Diuguid disclosed that the workforce had been compelled to vary “components and items” related to the power storage system (ESS) six occasions throughout its two 963s.

“We discovered a smoking gun that we had been capable of handle earlier than the race,” he stated.

“It was extra of an operational factor, even particular to PPM to be sincere.”

PPM and, it’s understood different producers, returned to parts within the HV system that had been run previously fairly than a brand new batch of components that would have performed a component within the pre-race points.

“We picked some parts that was once on the automotive and had been nonetheless okay on mileage,” defined Urs Kuratle, undertaking chief on the LMDh programme at Porsche Motorsport.

“These had been parts across the ESS: we had some spare parts, and Fortescue Zero [the battery supplier formerly WAE Technologies] had been on-site and Bosch Motorsport [which makes the motor generator unit [MGU} had some spare parts.”

Diuguid revealed that the fix had resulted from meetings between the manufacturers and the suppliers of components that make up the one-make hybrid system used on all LMDh prototypes.

“It was everyone getting in a room and throwing ideas on the table,” he said.

Diuguid and Kuratle stressed that the HV issue has yet to be fully understood.

Diuguid said that PPM could not be sure if its trouble-free run to a second consecutive Daytona victory was the result of the changes it made or “just luck”.

Kuratle stated that there is still the need to “analyse what happened at the Roar and in the practice sessions”.