Porsche plans third Le Mans entry after IMSA title

After conquering the IMSA GTP title, Porsche is evaluating the possibility of including a third car for the 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans, which would open a new opportunity for the Porsche Penske Motorsport team to compete with three vehicles in the Hypercar class. This option arises from their victory in the IMSA championship, which secures an additional entry for the event, although no final decision has been made yet.

The IMSA victory and its repercussions

Porsche's triumph in the IMSA GTP category, achieved by car number 7, driven by Felipe Nasr and Dane Cameron at the Petit Le Mans race in Road Atlanta, has earned the team an additional spot on the Le Mans grid. This result allows the team to consider the possibility of bringing three cars to the prestigious endurance event. According to Thomas Laudenbach, director of Porsche Motorsport, the decision is not yet confirmed, although he considers it a highly likely option.

Porsche’s participation in Le Mans

Porsche has requested the registration of a third car in the competition in previous years due to the inherent risks of long-distance racing. The experience from past years, where the team has competed with three vehicles, supports the idea that increasing the number of cars on the track raises the chances of success in the face of possible unforeseen events.

Reduction in Porsche’s representation for 2024

Although Porsche is considering increasing its direct participation in Le Mans, the brand's overall representation in the Hypercar class of the WEC could decrease next year. Customer team Jota, which runs two Porsche cars this year, will switch to Cadillac in 2025, reducing the number of cars from the German brand. Although Proton Competition could expand its participation with two vehicles, Porsche’s full representation will decrease from five to four cars in the WEC season.

Another relevant topic is the imminent announcement of Porsche Penske Motorsport drivers for the 2025 seasons in both the WEC and the North American series. Laudenbach confirmed that these details will be revealed before the end of the current season, just before the Bahrain race in November. However, it is unlikely that the drivers for a potential third car for Le Mans will be part of this announcement, as the decision on the third entry has not yet been fully resolved.