Porsche Outlines 2026 Motorsport Plans at Night of Champions
Stuttgart, Germany — At its annual Night of Champions event, Porsche unveiled its 2026 motorsports strategy, confirming participation in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) in the LMGT3 category with the upgraded Porsche 911 GT3 R. This new model will feature prominently across multiple prestigious series including the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, GT World Challenge, and DTM.
Despite the excitement surrounding the 911 GT3 R’s introduction, Porsche did not provide details regarding customer support for the 963 prototype in the WEC’s Hypercar class, with the deadline for the 2026 entry list approaching.
The factory team will also compete in Formula E, where it fields the Porsche Formula E Team alongside customer teams Andretti Formula E and Cupra Kiro, utilizing Porsche powertrains. Nico Müller will partner with Pascal Wehrlein in this final season of the current Formula E Gen3 regulations, commencing next week in São Paulo.
In the IMSA series, Porsche Penske Motorsport announced a robust driver lineup, featuring former WEC competitors Kévin Estre, Laurens Vanthoor, and Julien Andlauer as full-time GTP drivers. Notably, 2024 IMSA GTD PRO Champion Laurin Heinrich and reigning DTM Champion Ayhancan Güven have elevated to Porsche works driver status for 2026, replacing António Félix da Costa and Mathieu Jaminet.
A restructuring of the driver roster also sees Romain Dumas depart after an impressive 22-year tenure with Porsche. The 2026 line-up includes 13 works drivers and 17 other contracted drivers, with recent additions such as Porsche Junior Alessandro Ghiretti and driver Dorian Boccolacci.
Among the standout performers this past season was Loek Hartog, named the winner of the 56th annual Porsche Cup. Hartog’s accolades include victories in the Porsche Carrera Cup North America, as well as podium finishes in prestigious events including the 24 Hours of Nürburgring.
Porsche’s customer racing initiatives expand significantly with the introduction of the new 911 Cup, slated for various one-make series, and the relaunch of the Carrera World Cup in March 2026 at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
Dr. Michael Steiner, Member of the Executive Board for Research and Development at Porsche AG, stated, “With the Cup version of the 911, we are building one of the most successful customer racing cars. Our longstanding commitment to developing young talent is pivotal for our ongoing success in motorsport.”
Looking ahead, Thomas Laudenbach, Head of Porsche Motorsport, emphasized the company’s achievements in the 2025 season, noting, “We are beginning afresh with a strong foundation and gearing up for an exhilarating 2026.”
Porsche’s resilience and strategic vision aim to fortify its presence in the competitive motorsports landscape, with global racing events on the horizon including the 2026 Daytona 24 Hours.
