And so the rumours have been confirmed by Porsche – the reigning thrice-on-the-trot 24 Hours of Le Mans winners in the LMP1 class will be leaving the top endurance racing class in favour of a Formula E entry in 2019. The zuffenhausen outfit will join Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi in the all-electric racing series.
Porsche will continue its efforts in various international GT racing classes, such as the GT class of the FIA World Endurance Championship and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship series, among others. The company says the decision arises from the direction set out in Porsche Strategy 2025, with “pure GT vehicles and fully electric sports cars” in the pipeline, including the all-electric Porsche Mission E.
“Entering Formula E and achieving success in this category are the logical outcomes of our Mission E. The growing freedom for in-house technology developments makes Formula E attractive to us”, said Michael Steiner, executive board member for research and development at Porsche.
The company said that it is taking the initial steps towards developing its own Formula E car, though it hasn’t let loose its reins on GT racing.
“A diversity of manufacturers and the quality of both WEC and IMSA have led us to strengthen our commitment and concentrate our energies on using the 911 RSR. We want to be number one. To do that, we must invest accordingly,” Steiner added, making clear the height of the company’s ambitions for the GT class.
It is only natural for Porsche to continue in the GT classes given its success in that field, and interestingly Porsche said it will keep the successful LMP1 team full intact, including the factory drivers. In parallel with its new venture into Formula E as well as its current efforts in other racing series, the sports car maker is “examining other fields of application and development areas,” it said, without specifying what they might be.
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