Overview

• Porsche confirmed its two-car Porsche Penske Motorsport Hypercar effort will conclude after the 8 Hours of Bahrain, with its factory IMSA GTP program and Formula E works team continuing in 2026.
• WEC regulations require manufacturers to field two Hypercars, creating a barrier to a lone private Porsche 963 entry and complicating any use of a potential IMSA title-based Le Mans invitation.
• Proton Competition, which ran one private 963 this season, would need a second car and additional funding to remain in WEC; team boss Christian Ried is open to expanding but financing is unresolved.
• Porsche says customer racing support for the 963 and the new 911 GT3 R Evo remains unchanged, though Manthey’s LMGT3 participation is subject to WEC Selection Committee approval.
• Motorsport chief Thomas Laudenbach says a future factory WEC return is not ruled out; driver lineups are under review, with reporting indicating some current factory drivers may explore options with incoming manufacturers.