FIA WEC Two Audi and two Porsches for 2016

Audi Sport and Porsche Motorsport have both confirmed they will run two LM P1 hybrid prototypes in the 2016 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). That includes Le Mans. Audi also unveiled its latest R18 e-tron quattro/Michelin.

Porsche and Audi have confirmed they will each run two Michelin-equipped LM P1 prototypes throughout 2016.

The new Audi R18 e-tron quattro was presented in Munich at the Audi Sport Finale. It will have a modifiedTDi diesel engine, its aero package has been significantly modified and a new hybrid system will be used, with energy stored in a battery instead of by a flywheel. It could be classified as a 6Mj.

The driver line-ups for the two cars that Audi Sport Team Joest will have at all nine rounds of the 2016 FIA WEC have yet to be announced.

Porsche Motorsport also chose Saturday to reveal that a pair of 919 Hybrids will defend the team’s title in next year’s world championship.

The same six drivers who contested this year’s WEC will be back, namely Timo Bernhard, Mark Webber, Brendon Hartley, Neel Jani, Marc Lieb and Romain Dumas. Last June’s Le Mans winners Nico Hülkenberg, Nick Tandy and Earl Bamber will not get a chance to repeat their success with Porsche Team, however.

It is not expected that the 919 Hybrid/Michelin will feature much that is new. It will still be powered by a  two-litre petrol V4 combined with a double energy recovery system mated to a battery (8Mj).