Porsche Suddenly Halts Its WEC Hypercar Initiative Amid Budget Cuts | Carscoops

      Porsche remains dedicated to motorsport for the advancement of future sports car technologies.

      Financial complications are believed to have influenced the decision to discontinue the WEC program. Additionally, Porsche has voiced concerns regarding the current Balance of Performance regulations. Despite ending participation in WEC, Porsche will still compete in Formula E.

      After three years in the competition and having secured a championship title, Porsche has decided to terminate its World Endurance Championship program at the conclusion of this season. However, the race-winning 963 hypercar will still participate in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in North America.

      Porsche has been somewhat reticent about the reasons for withdrawing the 963 from WEC, though difficult financial circumstances are thought to have played a crucial role. Sales in the US have declined, partly due to tariffs imposed by former President Donald Trump, while Porsche is also witnessing a significant drop in demand in China.

      Looking ahead, the company intends to reduce its workforce by 10 percent by 2029 and has lowered its annual production goal from 300,000 to 250,000 units.

      Concerns Regarding Regulations

      Adding to the pressure, Porsche Motorsport head Thomas Laudenbach recently expressed worries about the existing Balance of Performance regulations, which have led to “questionable” outcomes, according to Motorsport.

      In a statement, Porsche board member Michael Steiner said, “We are very saddened that, due to the current situation, we will not be continuing our participation in the WEC after this season.”

      A Revised Racing Focus

      The German automaker has confirmed that it will now focus on campaigning the 963 in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the 99X Electric in the Formula E World Championship.

      However, Weissach’s decision to withdraw its factory support from the WEC’s hypercar category does not rule out the possibility of the 963 racing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans next year. The Porsche Penske team is anticipated to secure this year’s WeatherTech championship, making them eligible to compete at Le Sarthe in 2026.

      Porsche Motorsport vice president Thomas Laudenbach stated, “We utilize motorsport as a platform for developing future technologies and showcasing the capabilities of our sports cars. With the Porsche 963 in the North American IMSA series and the Porsche 99X Electric in the Formula E World Championship, we aim to continue striving for overall victories moving forward. This is our tradition and our priority.”