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Porsche’s time in the Hypercar class in the WEC is up. Or is it? Thibaut Villemant explains why, despite multiple hurdles, the prospect of the Porsche 963 competing in the WEC (and at Le Mans) is alive
Last Saturday, after a disappointing race, Porsche Penske Motorsport officially ended its World Endurance Championship program, signaling the end of an era. Despite this, the possibility of Porsche 963s returning to WEC and the Le Mans 24 Hours grid is still alive, albeit with challenges.
Roger Penske’s passion for Le Mans is well-known, and the closure of the WEC program and regulatory hurdles have been major setbacks for him. However, Penske has not given up and is working on a plan, with Christian Ried from Proton Competition as an ally.
The plan involves a potential partnership between Penske and Proton Competition to field two Porsche 963s in WEC, meeting the requirements and potentially reopening the door to Le Mans. Although details are still uncertain, behind-the-scenes discussions are ongoing, hinting at a possible comeback.
If the plan comes to fruition, it could lead to Team Penske running in WEC with Porsche’s support, fulfilling Penske’s Le Mans dream and potentially going further in future races. Despite challenges, the determination and collaboration among key figures suggest a promising future for Porsche in endurance racing.
