Proton Competitors has introduced that it’ll not area the Porsche 963 LMDh within the World Endurance Championship’s Hypercar class in 2026.
Following Porsche Penske Motorsport’s shock withdrawal from the championship, the German producer’s solely remaining hope of staying on the Hypercar grid rested with buyer group Proton Competitors.
The scenario was difficult by a brand new regulation launched initially of 2025 requiring every producer to enter two automobiles within the championship.
Proton, which stepped as much as Hypercar halfway by way of 2023, has at all times run a single 963 within the WEC, with its second chassis competing within the IMSA SportsCar Championship.
Though group boss Christian Ried had already acknowledged in final month’s Bahrain finale that Proton didn’t have the funding to develop to a two-car operation, it was extensively reported that last-minute discussions had been underway to maintain the group on the grid.
It’s understood that Porsche’s manufacturing unit companion Workforce Penske was exploring a personal partnership with Proton Competitors to make a two-car Hypercar entry potential.
Such a partnership would have additionally allowed Porsche Penske Motorsport to take up the auto-invite it secured for the Le Mans 24 Hours by profitable the 2025 IMSA GTP title.
Nevertheless, such talks seem to have come to a nought, with Proton revealing on Friday that it’ll not proceed its Hypercar programme for a fourth season in 2026.
“Regardless of weeks of discussions and each effort from our facet, our group Proton Competitors will be unable to area a Porsche 963 within the 2026 FIA WEC,” it stated in a press release, with out mentioning any collaboration with Penske.
#5 Proton Competitors Porsche 963: Neel Jani, Nico Varrone, Nico Pino
Picture by: Artwork Fleischmann
“After the exit of Porsche Penske Motorsport, Christian and Michael Ried explored each potential choice to maintain two Porsche 963s on the grid subsequent season. Sadly, the circumstances wanted for a personal entry couldn’t be reached.
“We need to categorical our gratitude to the individuals who stood with us all through this journey: Ferdi Porsche, F.A.T., Mustang Sampling, Ken & Brenda Thompson. And a heat thank-you additionally to ACO and LMEM for being by our facet till the final second.
“To all Porsche followers: we all know this can be disappointing. We actually hoped to proceed seeing the 963 racing in WEC and at Le Mans, and that very same ardour motivated us to maintain pushing for an answer. Nonetheless, we glance again proudly at what was achieved.”
Regardless of its departure from Hypercar, Proton is anticipated to stay a presence within the WEC due to its LMGT3 programme with a pair of Ford Mustang GT3 Evos.
“This replace considerations solely the 963 venture,” Proton clarified. “All our different Porsche programmes proceed to be evaluated as we form the absolute best lineup for the way forward for Proton Competitors.”
Proton may even be absent from IMSA’s GTP class subsequent 12 months, with the group lacking from the entry checklist for the 2026 season.
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