Porsche delivers new Safety Cars for 2022 FIA WEC Season
The partnership continues as Porsche 911 Turbo S is introduced as Safety Car prior to the 1000 Miles of Sebring
When the 2022 season kicks off next weekend at Sebring (USA), the new safety cars based on the Porsche 911 Turbo S will be deployed for the first time. The 478 kW (650 PS) nine-elevens sprint from zero to 100 km/h in 2.7 seconds and reach a top speed of 330 km/h. For use as a safety car in the FIA WEC, the sports car from Weissach has been fitted with data and transmission technology as well as a lighting signal system and two additional monitors in the cockpit.
The Porsche 911 Turbo S is also equipped with a special suspension set up for the racetrack. The drivers of the safety cars for the 2022 season remain unchanged with Pedro Couceiro from Portugal and Yannick Dalmas. In 1994, the Frenchman achieved overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans at the wheel of a Porsche 962.
The safety vehicles, which travel around the world in containers with the factory squad’s two 911 RSR racers, provide other services at the racetrack and in practice sessions: on each day of the WEC event, the safety car drivers turn laps to check the signal system and radio.
Two new safety cars decked out in the familiar black and red livery will attend all WEC races this season. Special rules only apply for the 24 Hours of Le Mans due to the particularly long 13.623-kilometre racetrack: there, safety cars are deployed at the same time.
“Supplying the safety cars is one aspect of our trusting collaboration with the FIA WEC organisation and the Le Mans organisers ACO,” says Alexander Stehlig, Director Factory Motorsport FIA WEC. “We’re delighted that from this year we’ll witness the extremely powerful and fast 911 Turbo S in action for incidents out on the track.”
Frédéric Lequien, CEO of the FIA WEC, said: “As a championship, we at WEC are delighted to add to build further on the long history that we share with Porsche. The importance of the role played by the Safety Car in ensuring the smooth running of each race cannot be overstated, and as such we have the utmost confidence that the new Porsche 911 Turbo S will be a tremendous asset to the event officials and competitors.”
