The German manufacturer currently fields three Porsche 963 Hypercars — two operated by Team Penske and one by Proton Competition. Despite a competitive season that sees the marque sitting second in the manufacturers’ standings, 38 points behind Ferrari with one round remaining, Porsche has opted to bring its WEC campaign to a close.
In an official statement, the brand announced that while its WEC involvement will cease, Porsche will continue to compete with the 963 in the North American IMSA SportsCar Championship and maintain its presence in Formula E with the Porsche 99X Electric.
Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President of Porsche Motorsport, said:
“We see motorsport as a platform to develop future technologies and to demonstrate the potential of our sports cars. With the Porsche 963 in IMSA and the Porsche 99X Electric in Formula E, we will continue to compete for victories. This remains both our heritage and our ambition.”
Porsche’s departure marks a significant shift in the WEC landscape, though the Hypercar class remains a thriving battleground for major manufacturers. Ferrari, Toyota, BMW, Peugeot, Cadillac, Alpine, and Aston Martin are all confirmed participants, while Ford, McLaren, and Hyundai have announced plans to join the grid in the near future.
The decision underscores Porsche’s strategic refocus on key motorsport arenas where technology development aligns more closely with the brand’s future direction.
The Paddock Queen Comments:
I must admit, Porsche’s withdrawal from the WEC is a disappointing development, as the championship is losing one of its most valuable contenders. However, the reasoning behind this decision isn’t difficult to understand.
In my opinion, the Balance of Performance (BoP) regulations, while designed to level the playing field, have often placed dominant manufacturers such as Porsche and Toyota at a disadvantage compared to Ferrari. This imbalance in competition fairness may have played a significant role in Porsche’s decision to step away.
Another major factor is undoubtedly the entry cost. The participation fee for the WEC is considerably higher than that of IMSA, and when you take into account Porsche’s current financial strategy as a brand, it’s easy to see how this could have influenced the move.
Many Porsche drivers, including Julien Andlauer, have openly expressed their disappointment at the decision — a sentiment that will likely ripple through the driver market in the months ahead. Still, Porsche’s commitment to other series such as IMSA and Formula E means we’ll continue to watch the marque’s performance with great interest.
