2030 Rules to “Play a Role” in Porsche’s Possible Return

Photo: Porsche

Porsche Motorsport boss Thomas Laudenbach says the FIA, ACO and IMSA’s plan to converge under one set of top-class technical regulations “will play a role” in the German manufacturer’s considerations of returning to the FIA World Endurance Championship’s Hypercar class in 2030.

Revealed last week at the annual ACO press conference in Le Mans, the foundations of the new technical regs, which have yet to be finalized, calls for common chassis rules, the elimination of four-wheel drive cars and options for manufacturers to build its own bespoke chassis and/or hybrid systems, but to the same performance levels as the off-the-shelf products that are expected to be carried over, to an extent, from the current LMDh platform.

Laudenbach, who was one of the first manufacturer bosses to call for a single platform several years ago, said the development puts things in a “good direction” but stressed there are other factors that need to be considered before being able to mount a comeback to the world championship’s top class.

“The step, and it’s a significant step, to get rid of LMH and LMDh, is for sure very positive in our view,” he told selected reporters, including Sportscar365, last weekend.

“There needs to be other boundary conditions fulfilled. But we’re observing it and also as a very clear statement, we said that we’ve never turned our back to Le Mans.

“We took a decision to step out after 2025. We are following it. We’re giving our input [for the future] and it goes into the right direction.”

Laudenbach confirmed the rules will be a factor in a future Hypercar program decision.

“It will play a role,” he said. “There were reasons why we stopped our engagement. Obviously if you think about coming back, various aspects have to be considered.

“Of course, one thing is, ‘How are the technical rules? How is the series?’

“Yes, we see the positive that there’s only one set of technical rules. How much it influences, there are also other aspects.”

He added: “The general direction is good. I think the main point is to have only one set of technical rules. Basically we do not have LMDh or LMH anymore. I think that’s a good step.

“I think also following a bit more the LMDh direction with no four-wheel drive, so to take the complexity out of the car, it’s also the right way to go when thinking about costs.

“It’s good. We also gave that feedback.

“But I think it’s far too early to talk about rules because there are no details or anything.

“There are still a lot of things to be defined. Obviously you can do your own hybrid system, so how is this described? Obviously, the goal must be that you don’t get a benefit through that.

“The same as the bespoke chassis. From what I know anyway, everybody’s got to make a new chassis because of the safety regulations, which is fine.

“It’s a positive direction but now the work starts.”

Laudenbach Rules Out WEC Hypercar Return for 2027

While Roger Penske has previously declared his ambitions of returning to the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Porsche before the end of the decade, which would require a full season WEC entry, Laudenbach has already ruled out such a program for next year.

“We know his (Penske’s) desire,” he said. “The only thing I can really say is that we have made a decision and that decision is it. Right now, there’s nothing to say more.

“Never say never. This is just the third race [of the first season without Porsche in Hypercar completed]. We don’t have any new decision or anything.

“There is no decision opposite to what we have announced. Don’t expect us to be there next year.”

Laudenbach, however, reaffirmed Porsche’s factory commitment to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship through at least the end of the 2027 season.

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