For the first time Porsche is showing images of the 2 litre turbocharged four cylinder engine at the heart of its astonishing 2015 FIA WEC campaign.

The turbo four pot drove the rear axle with an exhaust energy recovery system supplemented to no small degree by the latest lithium-ion battery technology for energy storage to deliver additional punch through the front axle via a complex hybrid management system.

A one-two result at the Le Mans 24-Hours and the manufacturers’ and drivers’ World Championship titles were the rewards for making this mechanical and electronic cocktail work.

The Porsche 919 Hybrid’s engine will be on display at race events, exhibitions and, of course, in the Porsche Museum at Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen in 2016.

Porsche describe the world championship engine as the most efficient combustion engine they have built so far. They add that the new four-cylinder turbo engine for the Porsche 718 Boxster picks up technology and know-how from the racing power pack. including the interspace between the cylinders, the short stroke and the central direct fuel injection.

Alexander Hitzinger, the Technical Director responsible for the 919, said: “Right from the beginning we had a brave concept, but it was also the right concept. This is paying off now.”

Hitzinger’s crew works very closely with the engineers from production cars. “They support us significantly in the areas of combustion development and fuel-mixture generation,” said Hitzinger. Despite all its affinities, the 919’s four-cylinder isn’t a flat engine like the new turbo generation for the 718 Boxster, as instead it has a 90 degree V angle.

For 2015 the engine had over 500 hp. For 2016 the regulations require a lower amount of energy from the fuel used per lap and have reduced the fuel flow for all the prototypes.

For the Porsche race engine this results in a loss of eight per cent of fuel and, therefore, output which now translates into a figure of less than 500 hp.

Together with the electrical energy from the two recovery systems (brake energy from the front axle and exhaust energy), which serve the e-machine on the front axle, the Porsche 919 Hybrid’s overall power system is now circa 900 hp.