P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Porsche hopes 963 engine redesign is approved for Le Mans
The German manufacturer, Porsche, is developing a new crankshaft for the 4.6-liter, twin-turbo LMDh engine based on the units used in the RS Spyder LMP2 and the 918 Spyder plug-in hybrid road car. Approval from the sanctioning bodies of the World Endurance Championship and the IMSA SportsCar Championship is still pending before a timeline for racing the updated engine can be set. The introduction of the engine in 2024 is being discussed, but details are not yet confirmed. The engine update would have to be applied to all the 963 cars racing in both WEC and IMSA. Porsche experienced vibration issues with the flat-plane crank V8 in the maiden season, which impacted its reliability. The exact reasons for the planned engine updates have not been disclosed. Revisions for safety and reliability are allowed without restriction, but manufacturers must seek approval from the rule makers.
