Andre Lotterer still adapting driving style for Porsche LMP1 car
Andre Lotterer has admitted he is still getting to grips with the Porsche 919 Hybrid as he heads into this weekend's World Endurance Championship event at Spa.
The three-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner, who has joined Porsche for 2017 after Audi's withdrawal from the WEC, revealed that he is continuing to adapt to the 919 from the R18 e-tron quattro he raced last year.
"It is quite a different beast and car to drive," said the German, who is teamed with Neel Jani and Nick Tandy in the #1 Porsche.
"It requires a different driving style, and I am still in that [learning] process at the moment."
Lotterer said that the move from a turbodiesel LMP1 running in the six megajoule hybrid class to an 8MJ petrol-powered car explained why he had to change his technique behind the wheel.
"With the Audi we had a bit more power and torque [from the conventional engine] because we were in the 6M class, so I'm used to rotating the car," he told Autosport.
"We drove the car on the throttle more, which in the Porsche we don't do because there is more emphasis on the boost from the front axle.
"There are other differences too, but that is the main one."
Lotterer revealed he was hoping to improve on the #1 Porsche's third-place finish from the opening round of the WEC at Silverstone last month in this weekend's second round of the championship.
"It was a good start because we were on the podium, but you cannot be happy with third place because you always want to win," he said.
Lotterer was the quickest Porsche driver in final practice at Spa on Friday morning, ending up fourth overall behind the trio of Toyotas.
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