Porsche tests new 919 Hybrid LMP1 aero specification for 2015 WEC

The German manufacturer tested the aero package for the Silverstone and Spa WEC rounds, in April and May respectively, at the Motorland Aragon circuit in Spain over the course of a five-day test this week.

Team principal Andreas Seidl said: "The most important new components were an updated aerodynamic package; it is the spec we are going to run at the first two six-hour races in Silverstone and Spa."

A low-downforce aero package for the 919 is due to come on stream ahead of the Le Mans 24 Hours in June.

The strategy is departure from Porsche's approach in 2014 when it ran in Le Mans configuration for the first two races and did not bring out its high-downforce package until the final five-race leg of the championship that started at Austin.

Porsche has chosen not to release images of the revised car, which will be launched in livery the day before the official WEC pre-season test at Paul Ricard on March 27/28.

The solo 919 completed 4722 miles over the course of the five days in Spain, meaning the car has notched up approaching 12,000 miles over the course of tests at the Yas Marina, Sakhir and Aragon circuits.

This week's test included the first endurance simulations for the Porsche.

Seidl said that the long-distance running had "identified some weak points for the Le Mans 24 Hours that we will be sorting out now".

The car was driven by WEC regulars Neel Jani, Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas and Marc Lieb, as well as Nick Tandy and Earl Bamber, who will race the third Porsche LMP1 entry at Le Mans.