Porsche has officially decided to abandon its plans to introduce a revised engine for its 963 LMDh prototype, which competes in both the World Endurance Championship (WEC) and IMSA SportsCar Championship. The decision marks the end of a development project aimed at improving the engine’s performance and reliability.
Engine Revision Plans Halted
The proposed engine updates involved switching from a 180° flat-plane crankshaft to a 90° crankshaft in the 4.6-litre twin-turbo V8 used in the Porsche 963. However, according to Urs Kuratle, the project leader for the 963 at Porsche Motorsport, this revision is now officially “dead.”
“We are not doing the crankshaft; it is not going to happen,” Kuratle confirmed. The decision to halt the engine update comes after extensive testing and evaluation over several races this season, including the iconic Le Mans 24 Hours.
Reliability Proves Key to Decision
Ahead of the Le Mans 24 Hours in June, Kuratle had hinted that Porsche would only move forward with the new engine if reliability issues with the current setup surfaced during the race. However, following a strong performance at Le Mans, where four Porsche 963s finished in the top 10 without any significant engine problems, the team saw no need for the changes.
Thomas Laudenbach, head of Porsche Motorsport, emphasized the strong performance of the current engine: “The car is extremely reliable and the car is fast, so why should we touch it?”
Key Points Behind the Decision:
- The current engine has shown no significant reliability issues in WEC and IMSA races.
- The best finish of fourth place at Le Mans demonstrated the car’s competitive pace.
- Porsche’s concern was primarily about vibrations affecting the hybrid system, but these concerns did not materialize in a meaningful way.
Initial Concerns and Development Efforts
Porsche had initiated the development of the revised V8 engine last year. The aim was to reduce vibrations that could potentially impact the reliability of the standardized hybrid system, which all teams must use under the LMDh rules. However, as the season progressed and the engine continued to perform reliably, the necessity of introducing a new crankshaft became less apparent.
“We have been to all these races [in WEC and IMSA] this year, and we have had no reliability issues, so why introduce it?” Kuratle explained, reflecting on the results from the season, including the pre-Le Mans round at Spa.
Moving Forward in Motorsport
With the decision to stick with the current engine setup, Porsche is focused on maximizing the potential of the 963 LMDh with the proven power unit. The team’s solid performance throughout the season underscores the reliability and speed of the car, setting the stage for continued competitiveness in both the WEC and IMSA series. Porsche’s choice to abandon the engine revision plan demonstrates a pragmatic approach to balancing performance, reliability, and resources in the high-stakes world of endurance motorsport.