Porsche focusing on race pace tonight
Porsche will focus on race preparation this evening and learning more about its Michelin race rubber and how they perform over long stints.
#17 Porsche Team Porsche 919 Hybrid: Timo Bernhard, Mark Webber, Brendon Hartley
Alexander Trienitz
Speaking to Motorsport.com this afternoon, Porsche team manager Andreas Seidl predicted that, irrespective of weather conditions this evening, the three Porsche 919 Hybrid entries will focus on perfecting race performance for the weekend.
"The main focus for us tonight now is race prep, whatever the weather does," said Seidl. "Because of the limited dry running we have had there are still come questions and open points on the tyres. So this will be our main focus if the conditions allow.
"Triple stinting the tyres is the minimum goal," Seidl confirmed. "Then we have to see what is comfortable and efficient after that.
"We also have to watch and see what our competition is doing too. Audi did four stints last year. Again, we have limited data this year so I think we will not see the true picture until the race."
Scope for 14 laps per stint strategy
Seidl was relatively coy on the Porsche fuel strategy but appeared to suggest that it would initially favour a more cautious 13-lap plan per stint.
"In theory it is possible from the calculation we have to do 14, but I think it will be 13 as we have to keep in mind some margins but it depends on some strategic decision you have to make in the race whether you extend the stint or go flat out, we'll see," he said.
Seidl remained cautious on lauding the Porsche 919 Hybrid headline-grabbing pace yesterday but was still satisfied with the way the Porsche LMP squad had started the 83rd Le Mans 24 Hours.
"We always knew from the car concept we had and from we learnt last year that we could be really good here, especially in qualifying," Seidl stated.
"But we know that anything can and often does happen in a 24 Hour race. Qualifying is only a very small part of the weekend overall."
"Still, it is important for the spirit of the team and for the designers and engineers to see the potential realised. There have been a lot of expectations within Porsche and also outside so operationally and technically we are satisfied to start the week in this fashion."
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