Alex Wurz: “The LMP1 car… it was love at first sight!”

Following nine years of intense competition in the WEC, the championship has dedicated its latest podcast to LMP1 with in-depth interviews from some of the category’s most successful drivers including Mark Webber, Allan McNish, Alex Wurz and Nic Minassian.  

Listen to the full podcast on Spotify HERE or on Apple Podcasts HERE.

The special edition podcast explores the spectacular journey for LMP1 – from technical innovation, to exhilarating on-track battles between multiple manufacturers and stand-out memories. 

Former Toyota and Peugeot LMP1 driver and current Toyota team advisor, Alex Wurz, spoke of his first encounter with LMP machinery: “For me, a stand-out memory was the first time I saw one of the modern LMP1 machines at a test – the Peugeot 908 at Paul Ricard. I had just signed with Williams to return to Formula 1 but as soon as I saw that car, I said to myself I needed to race one… it was love at first sight! I actually called the boss of Peugeot and he said you’ve just signed up for F1 but I told him my instinct was that I wanted to drive an LMP1.  This is what I really cherish about these prototypes – that style, the aura, ultra-heroic machines – not only to race but also to look at.” 

McNish, who won the LMP1 FIA World Endurance Championship title with Audi back in 2013, revealed some of his highlights from the WEC’s early years: “Getting the World Championship off the ground was a huge achievement and as a driver it was fantastic to be racing for a World Championship title.  You had major manufacturers that were fighting with such high level technology and from a driver point of view, it was extremely cut-throat.  The technology was pushing the boundaries to the absolute extreme. The WEC started on a difficult footing, but they successfully built up the momentum for a fantastic era in LMP1.  All of these good and bad experiences will hold them in good stead for the next era which has also got huge potential.”

On his departure from F1 at the end of 2013, Mark Webber joined Porsche’s LMP programme for the 2014 season remaining with the German marque until the end of 2016. The Australian recounted some of the ultra-close battles with the likes of Audi and Toyota:

“I couldn’t believe how many endurance races were down to just a few seconds,” explained the 2015 LMP1 World Endurance Champion.  “When Porsche approached me to join their LMP programme, I was paired with Timo [Bernhard] and Brendon [Hartley] and it turned into a real brotherhood. We are really tight to this day.  That’s what sportscar racing does, it breaks down a lot of barriers.  You have to be so, so transparent which makes you very close as individuals.  Sportscar racing is brilliant at creating brotherhood.”

He added that the sheer speed and technology of LMP1 machinery was nothing short of extraordinary.  Webber took up the story: “I had several Red Bull mechanics that I used to work with come and watch me in the WEC, and they told me that the Porsche Curves at night was just extraordinary. The mixture of electric in background and combustion engine – that sort of futuristic acoustic was mind-boggling.”

Endurance racing has enjoyed several golden ages over the years and the LMP1 era is no exception. Now as the WEC prepares for a new direction for 2021, the scene is set for an all-new era in endurance racing with the highly-anticipated Hypercar. 

Don’t forget to listen HERE and check back in two weeks’ time (Friday 27 November) when WEC Talk will have more exclusive interviews from drivers and key names from the world of endurance racing.

About WEC Talk

Available on various platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Deezer, the WEC’s official podcast promises fans a unique insight into the exhilarating world of sportscars. 

With exclusive interviews from drivers, team members, management and legendary figures involved in endurance racing, fans across the world can get their regular sportscars fix by tuning into WEC Talk.