Precision leads to Porsche Le Mans win

In 2014, with the motto “Mission 2014. Our Return,” Porsche returned to the LMP1 class of the FIA World Endurance Championship after an absence of 16 years and put forth a strong performance with one win, six podiums, and four pole positions in its first year. And 2015, mission accomplished! Porsche has achieved its 17th overall Le Mans victory at the 83rd running of the famous 24-hour race with a one-two finish. The drivers team from car number 19 won the coveted trophy in their Porsche 919 Hybrid exactly 45 years after Porsche achieved its first overall win at La Sarthe. The sister car number 17 added the icing on the cake, coming in second.

No other brand has managed to win the world’s toughest endurance race so many times, adding to the lore of Le Mans. The previous win was also a one-two in 1998 when Allan McNish, Laurent Aiello, and Stéphane Ortelli finished first in their Porsche GT1.

Porsche returned last year to the top level of endurance racing, attracted by the new efficiency regulations. At its research center in Weissach, engineers developed the 919 Hybrid, a car with a downsized turbo engine and two energy recovery systems. It works as a racing laboratory for the highest efficiency of future sports cars.

DMG MORI, as a Porsche racing exclusive technology partner, supports Porsche in two ways – first, as a long-time supplier for companies that make high-quality vehicle components for the team, and second as a dedicated component producer through its Deckel Maho Seebach facility, in Germany. The Porsche Motorsport CNC Competence Center supplies Porsche with a growing range of vehicle components, focusing on precision, flexibility, and innovative technology synergies.

Among other products, it develops and manufactures complex housings for pump stages or electric motors and end caps for the differential. Bearing shafts, bearing heads and spigots, and spacers made of thermoplastic also are made for car pedals. The materials used include steel, aluminum, titanium, and plastic.

“Our collaboration is a great opportunity to showcase our expertise with these innovative machines,” says Dr. Thomas Hauer, head of application technology at Deckel Maho Seebach.
 

Deckel Maho Seebach is an expert producer of high-precision high-speed cutting (HSC) machining centers and universal 5-axis machines such as the DMU eVo linear series. The plant also uses a high level of vertical integration and know-how in machine component manufacturing and in-depth machine process development via enhanced technology application.

Four experienced application technicians are responsible for the challenges presented by Porsche’s engineering team. A high-precision HSC 70 linear machining center, a DMU 60 eVo linear universal machine, and a CTX beta 800 TC turn/mill facilitate this demanding production process.

Porsche and DMG MORI plan to build on last season’s achievements through further component expansion and the development of more intelligent production solutions for demanding parts, which will serve as a source of long-term, sustainable technology.

DMG MORI
www.dmgmori.com

Porsche AG
www.porsche.com