Porsche has brought its iconic LMP 2000 racing car back to life after 25 years, with a dynamic rollout at the Weissach Development Centre.
Originally designed for the 2000 Le Mans 24 Hours, the project was shelved for budgetary reasons in 1999 after just 78 kilometers of testing. Now, thanks to the Porsche Heritage and Museum team, the car has returned as a testament to innovation and passion.
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A Journey Through Time
The LMP 2000, developed for the LMP900 Le Mans prototype class, boasted groundbreaking engineering. Weighing less than 900 kg, it featured a naturally aspirated 5.5-liter V10 engine delivering over 600 PS. Designed for endurance racing, the car promised unmatched performance, fuel efficiency, and aerodynamics. However, its journey was cut short before it could compete.
On its 25th anniversary, former works driver Allan McNish, who last drove the LMP 2000 in 1999, once again took the wheel. “It feels like I’ve gone back 25 years,” McNish said, describing the car’s agility, linear power delivery, and the evocative sound of its V10 engine as “pure Porsche.”
Restoration and Rediscovery
The restoration was no small feat. Engineers from Porsche’s Heritage and Motorsport teams collaborated with Formula E specialists to revive the car. They meticulously overhauled the gearbox, reactivated the engine, and adapted modern control units to integrate with the original paddle-shift system.
The LMP 2000 shares DNA with a high-revving Formula 1 engine from the early 1990s, further linking its history to Porsche’s storied motorsport legacy. “Hearing the V10 roar to life again was indescribable,” said Steffen Wolf, part of the restoration team.
A Celebration of Innovation and Legacy
The event reunited key figures from the original project, including Norbert Singer, the renowned “Mr. Le Mans,” and former Head of Motorsport Herbert Ampferer. Singer reflected on the car’s ambitious design, which favored an open-top chassis for increased downforce and a naturally aspirated engine for efficiency.
For Ampferer, the occasion was deeply personal. “I was told I’d never see it drive, and yet here it is, 25 years later,” he said. Current Head of Motorsport Thomas Laudenbach added, “This car represents the essence of Porsche—pushing boundaries and preserving great ideas.”
A Legacy Reignited
The LMP 2000, now unveiled and fully operational, embodies Porsche’s commitment to innovation, resilience, and storytelling. Its revival serves not only as a technical achievement but as a tribute to the people and vision that shaped its creation.
As the V10 engine roared down the track, it wasn’t just a car being driven—it was history being relived and celebrated, proving once again that Porsche’s spirit of endurance transcends time.
Source: 25 Years Later: Porsche Revives the Iconic LMP 2000 Racing Car
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