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Allan McNish Reunites with Porsche LMP2000 After 25 Years
Allan McNish, a celebrated three-time winner of the Le Mans 24 Hours, has once again taken the wheel of the elusive Porsche LMP2000, a vehicle that has largely remained dormant for over two decades since its sole test run.
The former racing driver, who concluded his competitive career after securing the World Endurance Championship title with Audi in 2013, recently drove the LMP2000 at Porsche’s Weissach research and development facility. This testing event coincided with the 25th anniversary of the prototype’s only prior outing.
This season, Porsche has been working on rekindling the LMP2000, an open-top prototype powered by a 5.5-litre normally aspirated V10 engine. McNish’s experience in the car sparked memories of its performance. He noted that the vehicle behaved precisely as he recalled from previous interactions.
“After reviewing the test report this morning, I found that the car’s reactions were just as I had described them back then,” McNish shared with Motorsport.com. “Every control in the cockpit was positioned exactly where I expected it to be. It all felt incredibly familiar, as if no time had passed.”
He also emphasized a detail that had evaded his memory: “The engine note is something else—when you hit the throttle, it produces a delightful, throaty sound.”
Reflections on Bob Wollek
During his recent test drive, McNish reminisced about Bob Wollek, the late Porsche legend with whom he partnered during testing sessions with the LMP2000 back in November 1999. Wollek, whose life tragically ended in a cycling accident on the eve of the 2001 Sebring 12 Hours race, was instrumental during the initial laps of the LMP2000 at Weissach.
“Seeing Bob’s name on the side of the car stirred up a lot of memories,” McNish recalled. “He was a significant figure in my early career and had a lot to teach young drivers like myself. It’s striking to think that when he was testing this car, he was about the same age I am now.”
The development of the LMP2000 stemmed from Porsche’s decision to take a different route after relinquishing its 1998 Le Mans title—an accolade won by McNish alongside teammates Laurent Aiello and Stéphane Ortelli in a 911 GT1-98. The company abandoned plans to defend its crown, opting instead for a new design philosophy focused on a V10 engine derived from a mid-90s Formula 1 project.
Despite this innovative shift, the LMP2000 never received formal approval from Porsche’s board, leading to the premature termination of the program just before the anticipated November test.
Under the supervision of esteemed engineer Norbert Singer, Porsche Motorsport completed one LMP2000 and conducted two days of testing at Weissach. The recent test was only the car’s second official public engagement, the first being a static display at the 2018 Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Porsche’s Subsequent Journey in Endurance Racing
Unexpectedly, Porsche would not return to the Circuit de la Sarthe to compete for overall victory until 2014. After a brief foray into the prototype arena with the RS Spyder LMP2 program starting in 2005, it was the arrival of the 919 Hybrid LMP1 that reignited the brand’s pursuit of Le Mans glory.
The 919 Hybrid achieved remarkable success, securing three consecutive Le Mans victories alongside multiple World Endurance Championship titles between 2015 and 2017. Throughout this period, McNish, who had previously been contracted to drive for Toyota’s GT-One at Le Mans in 1999, transitioned from a three-year agreement with Porsche to a successful stint with Audi, where he claimed further victories and championships.
As Porsche’s resources shifted towards the development of the Carrera GT, a supercar powered by a V10 engine derived from the LMP2000’s design, McNish’s racing legacy continued to evolve, encapsulating the intricate relationship between ambition, innovation, and remembrance in the world of motorsport.
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