#PORSCHEXIT: Porsche Leaving LMP1 for Formula E
With a focus on an electric future, what does this mean for the future of Porsche? What does this mean for the future of WEC?
We aren’t quite ready to start playing taps for WEC, but we’ve certainly got our trumpets ready. Porsche is reportedly preparing to leave the top level of endurance racing. If Porsche leaves, Toyota likely won’t be too far behind, marking the departure of all three top-level manufacturers in just two seasons. The 919 Hybrid program, currently in its fourth year, is intensely competitive and has helped Porsche earn their 17th, 18th, and 19th Le Mans 24 victories in the last three years. Not to mention the extra WEC championship titles they’ve won. Porsche have nothing further to prove in this category.
Porsche is eagerly growing their electric portfolio, having launched several hybrid models, including a hybrid hyper car, a hybrid GT racer, and this 919 Hybrid LMP1 car in recent years. They’ve also teased an upcoming full electric supercar, currently dubbed “Mission E.” The brand is rolling out incredibly powerful charging station designs to coincide with that car’s launch. It won’t be long before we start seeing lower-tier hybrid sports cars (think 718 and 911), and potentially a full EV sports car before too much time goes by. Would you drive a 911EV?
Don’t worry too much about Porsche’s racing legacy, however, as the new mid-engine 911 RSR is still in its first year of GTE Pro and GTLM competition across the WEC and IMSA series, and that car likely won’t be going abandoned anytime soon. Furthermore, Porsche is reportedly moving their electric and battery expertise from WEC straight into Formula E, where they will compete directly with other manufacturers, including Mercedes, Audi, BMW, Jaguar, Citroen DS, Renault, and Mahindra. Mercedes recently ended their long-running DTM efforts to run in Formula E, making that series a hot commodity right now.
Electric is Porsche’s future, and we are more than ready to welcome our new EV racing overlords.
[Photo: Porsche – Source: Racer.com and MotorAuthority.com]