P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Customer cars key if manufacturers end up deserting Hypercar – Porsche
The WEC has seen a surge in popularity and participation following regulatory changes, resulting in nineteen Hypercar entries in 2024 from nine different manufacturers. This level of involvement from OEMs is unprecedented in the history of the series. However, there is a concern that these manufacturers may not remain committed in the long term, as some privateer entrants have already dropped out this year. If the big manufacturers were to leave, there may not be enough privateers to sustain the championship. Porsche is the only constructor with a customer car program, and other manufacturers have missed the opportunity to offer customer cars. Despite the challenges, Porsche treats its customer teams well and provides them with the same upgrades as the factory squad. Porsche’s first customer car had a strong performance in 2023, and the company continues to support its customers in the Hypercar class.
