Porsche Will Decide its Future in LMP1 Endurance Racing by End of July
Rumors have swirled that the team may drop WEC in favor of Formula E.
Nobody has been more successful in the 24 Hours of Le Mans than Porsche. Last month, it added its 19th victory to a long list of accomplishments at what may be the biggest race on any calendar, triumphing over Toyota for a third consecutive year. That may seem like enough to keep them going in the World Endurance Championship for years to come, but some speculation says that the marque could be dropping its LMP1 program in favor of Formula E. According to a report from Motorsport, decision could be made as soon as the end of this month.
After seeing Porsche officials at several Formula E events in Berlin and Monaco, several reports noted that it could be a sign of the team's future in motorsport. When asked what direction Porsche may take, LMP1 team principal Andreas Seidl said: "We will make the decision before the end of July."
He denied any further comment as his team was preparing for the fourth round of WEC at the Nurburgring, a race which it won. But that should be enough to validate the idea that Porsche is actively seeking new options for the future.
On paper, Porsche is committed to the WEC past 2018. An extension brought about in 2015 decided that, but after next year's season, it's up to the crew to decide.
Porsche would not be the first to make this move as fellow Le Mans legend Audi ditched LMP1 for Formula Eafter 2015. The team is now a majority holder in Audi Sport Abt Schaeffler, which currently stands in second place for the Formula E title.
