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Current Press releases

Mark Webber to drive Porsche's high horsepower hybrid at Albert ParkPorsche 918 Spyder to excite fans at Formula 1® Rolex Australian Grand Prix

Australia. The Porsche 918 Spyder super sports car will demonstrate its advanced hybrid technology at the Formula 1® Rolex Australian Grand Prix when it laps the Albert Park Grand Prix circuit with Mark Webber behind the wheel at 11:35am on Saturday March 14.

This will also be the first opportunity for Mark to acknowledge his loyal fans in Australia on track since his Formula 1® retirement.

The demonstration laps will begin in eerily silent “E-Power” electric mode before Porsche Le Mans driver Webber cycles the 918 Spyder through its various hybrid programmes and into “Race Hybrid” mode for a full-on track assault.

“The 918 Spyder is such an awesome car to drive,” says Webber. “The first time I drove it was on the Goodwood race track in the UK and I was genuinely surprised by its performance as I’m not that easily impressed by road cars.

“It’s by a long way the fastest road car I’ve driven and the mixture between electric and combustion engine gave me an experience I’ve only sampled in my Porsche 919 hybrid LMP1 car.

“I‘ve also driven the 918 Spyder through the streets of London and it’s an absolute head-turner.

“I’m really looking forward to driving it around the Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit and giving the fans an exclusive look at the 918 Spyder in Australia for the first time.”

The 918 Spyder is a paradox: in smooth urban driving conditions it consumes an average of just 3.1 L / 100 kms, yet is capable of over 300 km/h on the track with its race-inspired V8 engine (447 kW), rear axle hybrid module (115 kW) and front axle electric motor (95 kW) all working in unison to generate 657 kW or 887 horsepower.

Porsche’s technological masterpiece is the halo road car of a Porsche E-Mobility display at the Formula 1® Rolex Australian Grand Prix that also includes the 919 hybrid LMP1 race car from the 2014 World Endurance Championship (WEC), as well as the plug-in Panamera S E-Hybrid and the recently launched all-new plug-in Cayenne S E-Hybrid.

10/3/2015