Porsche Returns to Ignite a New Golden Le Mans Era
Porsche returns to Le Mans to take on Toyota, Audi & Peugeot. Will Ferrari and Mercedes follow?
Porsche has confirmed that it will return to the Le Mans 24 Hours from 2023. It will do so with an LMDh prototype as part of a dual World Endurance and IMSA Sports Car campaign. The Porsche board has already approved the development of a new LMP2-based LMDh hybrid machine.
A New Golden Le Mans Era Dawns
“Porsche will run in both championships with a full commitment,” Porsche factory motorsport boss Pascal Zurlinden confirmed. “This is an open ended campaign, starting with the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona in January 2023.” Porsche last raced in the top Le Mans class with the 919 Hybrid LMP1 program in 2017.
Even without any further commitment, the marques already committed will spark what promises to be one of endurance racing’s finest eras. Porsche will return to Le Mans alongside Audi and Peugeot to compete with Toyota. Like Porsche, Audi is also developing an LMDh prototype for Le Mans for 2023, while Toyota and Peugeot will compete with Le Mans Hypercars in the new dual top class WEC format.
Glickenhaus is among the more specialised carmakers to have confirmed a Le Mans hypercar campaign. Ferrari is understood to be considering a return for the first time since 1965. And while it has not indicated a WEC future for its new hypercar, Mercedes’ AMG One is currently in the process of being launched. A factory Mercedes last raced Le Mans in 1955. It is also understood that McLaren is considering a WEC campaign, while Aston Martin’s plans are on ice.
Porsche Returns Fully Committed to LMDh Concept
“Porsche is fully convinced of this LMDh concept,” Zurlinden pointed out. “The IMSA Daytona Prototype international class proves that outstanding is racing is possible at a high level but at reasonable cost. “It allows Porsche to continue to showcase the brand’s DNA, which is going endurance racing. We can contest both championships and the biggest endurance races in the world with one car.
“Motor racing at the moment is definitely guided by maximum cost efficiency, so having some spec parts is an important factor to reduce costs”.
“This LMDh entry reflects the brand’s strategy of selling electric, hybrid and pure combustion-engined cars for the road,” Porsche board member in charge of motorsport Michael Steiner added. “We want to represent this trilogy in both the development of our cutting-edge road cars and in motorsport,” he explained.
“We use the all-electric drive to contest Formula E as part of our works commitment and the highly-efficient and emotional combustion unit in GT racing. Now, the LMDh class closes the gap for us.”
No Decision on a Power Unit or Chassis. Yet
While Porsche Returns, it is yet to decide on its powertrain. It also still needs to choose a next generation of LMP2 chassis manufacturer. Either Oreca, Ligier, Dallara or Multimatic can build LMDh chassis. “We have many engines that could fit,” Zurlinden confirmed. “A power unit developed out of a road car unit is also probably more cost effective than building a bespoke unit.”
Porsche is also yet to confirm whether it will compete as a full-factory team, as a customer supplier, or both. Zurlinden compared the project with the Porsche 956 and 962 of the 1980s and early ‘90s. Those cars successfully delivered all aspects. “We think that an LMDh vehicle is very attractive for potential customers in terms of cost,” Zurlinden concluded. “If you look back at the ’80s, 90s there is a long success story of also having customers in such classes.
“Even if there are works teams, if a customer Porsche wins, it is still a Porsche win.”
Photos: Porsche