Le Mans / IMSA – Porsche arrives in LMDh

In 2017, the 919 Hybrid increased its number of victories to three 24 Hours of Le Mans, at 19 the record of success in the Sarthe of Porsche. Three years after storing its LM P1 in the museum, the German manufacturer formalizes its return to the premier category ofEndurance.

A return planned for 2023, with a car meeting LMDh regulations, therefore based on an LM P2 chassis and equipped with an Xtrac gearbox as well as a Bosch hybrid system.Williams Advanced Engineering. Why this choice ?

« The LMDh allows us to claim overall victory with a car equipped with a hybrid system in the three great classics: the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring, underlines Oliver Blume, CEO of the German brand. And all without breaking the bank! »Porsche assures us in our columns that the brand will be well represented in 2023, both in WEC whether IMSA.

Oliver Blume, who was keen to greet Fritz Enzinger, vice-president of Porsche Motorsport, who has been working since January to bring this project to fruition. “ I would like to thank our board of directors for the immense confidence it places in the motorsport strategy that we have developed » said the Austrian.

And this before continuing: “ We are credited with 19 victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and several successes in the major American Endurance races (18 at the 12 Hours of Sebring and 22 as an engine manufacturer at the 24 Hours of Daytona. Editor’s note). We can continue this tradition with an LMDh, at reasonable costs. I hope we can pick up where we left off in the 80s and 90s, with these clashes against many other brands. Other manufacturers have expressed keen interest. »

An announcement that falls two days after Peugeot has revealed the technical characteristics of the powertrain of its future vehicle – expected in 2022 – and a little more than two weeks afterAudi also announced its return, proof that Endurance is in full revival. Does this arrival of Porsche in Hypercar – the new name for LM P1 – mean that the brand will leave one of the championships in which it is involved? No, according to Michael Steiner.

« In the medium term, Porsche wants to focus on three different drive concepts: fully electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids and those with only a combustion engine, assures the head of research and development at Porsche AG. We use all electric Formula E and high-efficiency thermal blocks in GT (GT3 and GTE. Editor’s note). From now on, the empty box is checked by the LMDh. And if regulations were to allow the use of synthetic fuels, it would make even more sense in terms of sustainability. »

Porsche has indeed confirmed its commitment to Formula E, a championship in which its interests will be defended in 2021 by André Lotterer and Pascal Wehrlein. At the same time, two 911 RSR-19s will be lined up in the GTE Pro category of the WEC for Gianmaria Bruni-Richard Lietz and Kévin Estre-Neel Jani. Finally, 911 GT3s operated by partner teams and supported by the German manufacturer will be entered in the GT World Challenge and the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring. But from now on, fans have their eyes turned towards the 24 2023 Hours of Daytona, the first race of the 919 Hybrid's little sister.

To find out everything about Porsche's return to the premier Endurance category, don't miss our issue 2291, available here in digital version as well as in the kiosks, including an interview with Pascal Zürlinden, responsible for official Porsche competition programs.