Sixteen years after its last overall victory, this manufacturer returned to the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2014 to compete in the top-flight LMP1 hybrid sports prototype class with its newly-developed 919 Hybrid gasoline-electric race car. The 2-car factory effort in 2014 did not go to plan. Both cars qualified well, starting the race in 2nd and 4th positions, but one car finished 11th overall while the other did not finish. A return to Le Mans in 2015 was a 3-car effort, with major improvements having been made to the 919 Hybrid over the previous year.

The 919 Hybrid's rear wheels are powered with gasoline by a turbocharged, direct-injected, 2-liter V4 engine making over 500 horsepower that is mated to a 7-speed sequential transaxle. The 919 Hybrid's front wheels are powered with electricity using two energy recovery systems and an electric motor making over 400 horsepower. The first energy recovery system captures waste heat from the front brakes and converts it to electricity. The second energy recovery system consists of a turbine driven by the gasoline engine's exhaust flow to generate electricity. The electricity generated by both energy recovery systems is temporarily stored in lithium-ion battery cells before being transmitted to the electric motor. The 919's hybrid system generates well over 900 horsepower, giving the car incredible performance while consuming 30% less fuel compared to earlier conventional sports prototype race cars.

919 fans could not have hoped for a better qualifying performance as the 919 Hybrids qualified in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd positions to start the race. The #19 919 Hybrid which started in 3rd position was piloted by New Zealander Earl Bamber, German Nico Hülkenberg, and Englishman Nick Tandy. They went on to win the race, completing 395 laps and covering a distance of 3344 miles at an average speed of 139.3 miles per hour. Their teammates in the #17 919 Hybrid finished one lap down in 2nd place while the #18 919 Hybrid finished four laps down in 5th place.

Efforts in 2015 culminated in the manufacturer's record-setting 17th overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, beating its class rivals Audi and Toyota. It was the manufacturer's first overall victory in seventeen years and first overall victory in the hybrid era, and would lead to overall victory again at Le Mans in 2016 and 2017 with their 919 Hybrids, adding to their record-setting total.

Multi-color print on a Silver 100% ring-spun cotton shirt. Original artwork by CGC and not affiliated with car manufacturer.