Porsche's withdrawal from the World Endurance Championship ended a great period for sportscar racing. Some of the battles against Toyota and Audi between 2014-17 were epic, and Porsche's exit - following that of Audi - put the championship at a crossroads.
Dissatisfaction with future regulations, which Porsche felt "simplified" the high-tech hybrid class, and a new focus on its Formula E entry in 2019-20, contributed to that decision. But that wasn't the end of the 919's story, which includes three drivers' titles, three manufacturers' crowns and a trio of Le Mans 24 Hours successes.
Despite not racing, the 919 has made headlines in 2018 - perhaps more than any other sportscar story, with the exception of Fernando Alonso's ultimately successful Le Mans bid - with two laps, one at Spa and one at the Nurburgring Nordschleife.