That sweet Porsche hybrid race car is tearing up the Nurburgring Long Distance Championship, scoring third place in its second race of the season.
Drivers Joerg Bergmeister and Wolf Henzler said the Porsche GT3 R Hybrid ran like a dream and, owing to its hybrid drivetrain, required one fewer pit stop than most of its competitors. Sunday's third-place finish followed a sixth-place finish last month.
“The hybrid system clearly helped us to save fuel. Moreover, it’s a great feeling to have those extra 120 kW from the electric motors when you accelerate out of the corners,” Bergmeister said in a statement.
The hybrid drivetrain isn't like the system you'd find in, say, a Toyota Prius. The front axle sports two electric motors, each producing 60 kilowatts (about 80 horsepower) to complement the 480-horsepower six-cylinder engine. Instead of a battery, there's an electrical flywheel power generator bolted to the floorboard next to the driver. It spins at up to 40,000 RPM. Kinetic energy from braking is stored in the flywheel. That power can be sent to the front motors when accelerating out of a turn or overtaking a car.
It sounds complex, but so far it's worked perfectly -- Porsche says the GT3 R Hybrid hasn't experienced any mechanical issues in either race. Round three of the series is a four-hour race slated for April 24.
Photo: Porsche
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