Proton Could Abandon Porsche 963 IMSA GTP Program

Photo: Porsche

Proton Competition could abandon its IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship program with its Porsche 963, with the German squad potentially to focus on its single-car Hypercar class effort in the FIA World Endurance Championship instead.

Indicated during Saturday’s Porsche ‘Night of Champions’ event in Weissach, a statement from the German manufacturer read that “one customer team” — JDC-Miller Motorsports — will join the factory Porsche Penske Motorsport outfit in the WeatherTech Championship next year.

It suggests that Proton’s entry, registered for the Michelin Endurance Cup-only races next year, will not be on the grid as originally planned.

Proton has yet to officially communicate confirmation of its withdrawal, while Sportscar365 has reached out to Porsche representatives for further details.

The Christian Ried-led organization had previously been targeting a two-car WEC Hypercar effort but had only a single 963 car upon the release of the full season entry list last month.

It’s currently unclear the reason for Proton’s likely reduced 963 effort, particularly with the team set to continue to have a presence in the Endurance Cup races through its partnership with Iron Dames in the operation of their Porsche 911 GT3 R in the GTD class.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John