Le Mans24: Porsche in LMP1, it is a possibility

[Plex]

As with each off season, Porsche is at the center of debate. It can be said that during the past few years, the German constructor has cultivated a certain paradox: although it is well represented by its clients, in LMP2 and even more so in GT2, the marque has not been in the top endurance class since 1998. Coincidentally the same year of its last Le Mans 24 Hours victory overall. A new season is approaching and the team from Zuffenhausen will leave Audi and Peugeot to do battle at la Sarthe. Will 2010 be a year for GTs before returning to prototypes in the near (more or less) future? This is what we tried to find out from Hartmut Kristen.

Before speaking of Porsche projects in the works, Hartmut Kristen looked back at 2009. It was a year that garnered several titles in GT2, whether it be in ALMS with the Flying Lizard team of Patrick Long and Jorg Bergmeister, or in Le Mans Series, with Felbermayr Proton and their duo of Richard Lietz and Marc Lieb, and finally in FIA-GT with the title going to Richard Westbrook. “Yes, I am satisfied,” confirms the boss of Porsche Motorsport. “But if you only look at the results it seemed easier than it was in reality. In all Championships we saw very tight battles for all the titles.” He can’t say the same about the Le Mans 24 Hours and Spa 24 Hours, were the RSRs were absent from the GT2 podiums. “I cannot be happy with these results and we will work hard to do better in 2010.”

In 2010, we won’t be seeing Porsche in the prototype classes, almost. Last season had already shown a step back in terms of teams entering the RS Spyder. In the United States, Penske Racing shifted to Grand-Am while Dyson Racing opted for the Lola-Mazda combination. In Europe, Van Merksteijn took the direction of rallying and Horag-Lista stopped their racing activity. The German LMP2s therefore only made appearances at the 1000km of Spa and the Le Mans 24 Hours. “It was the choice of the owners of the cars due to budgetary restrictions.” This didn’t keep Team Essex from taking the class win. “There were a lot of big victories. And for sure the win in LMP2 in Le Mans, 24 hours without any technical problem, was a great victory.” The last, perhaps, in a long line. “We stopped the RS Spyder customer program by the end of 2009. With one exception: There will be one RS Spyder, owned by the team Cytosport, running in the ALMS 2010.”

As a result, the Porsche colours will be defended in GT this season, a category in the middle of change. A new GT1 class will make its debut, while GT2 will now have its own European championship. What does the Competition Director think? “As always some elements make more sense than others and all the participating parties have to find a compromise. What is absolutely useless and only consumes lots of money is the new standardized ECU. This might become a killer for new GT2 projects.” On the other side of the FIA, with SRO and of the ACO with the 24 Hours of Le Mans and Le Mans Series, IMSA has opted for a single GT category. A decision that seems to sit better with Hartmut Kristen. “The ALMS officials have only responded to facts. There are no GT1 cars in the U.S. For two years, only the Corvettes were racing in this class. We believe it is a reasonable decision. Like other manufacturers, Porsche was in favor of having only one category when the new GT1 and GT2 regulations were discussed.”

Without too much surprise, Porsche will not be present in GT1, but will run in a GT2 class that promises to be hotly contested. Ferrari, with an F430 “King Size,” Corvette and its C6.R, and BMW with the M3, will all bring the fight to the Stuttgart carmaker, which will be aiming to continue its success with the RSR. “Under the grandfathered GT2 regualtions there are no evolutions allowed. The main point of interest will be how the BMW and Corvette which are carrying tons of waivers will be balanced with cars such as the Ferrari and Porsche that are really in line with the current GT2 regulations.” The message is clear and this year looks to be an interesting one, at all levels. Still with the RSR, Hartmut Kristen will not comment on the possible entry of a hybrid version at the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring. We’ll have to be patient.

Patience will also be needed concerning Porsche’s eventual return to prototype racing. The marque participated in discussions about the new 2011 rules and the Porsche Motorsport boss seems to be relativelly satisfied. “Mainly yes. Same applies as in GT. You have to accept compromises. We are still sure that Diesel powered cars have an advantage over Gasoline powered cars. What will become interesting in the future are opportunities with alternative or hybrid powertrains.”

And to relaunch the rumours, once again, surrounding a possible Porsche return to the top category, executive director Michael Macht declared in December that “Motorsport is a central element of our company’s DNA. And it will hold an important role in the future. I’m not the only one at Porsche to be tempted to race for overall victory again at the Le Mans 24 hour race.” So we asked Hartmut Kristen if a comeback in LMP1 was a possibility? for 2011? for 2012? “It’s a possibility,” he replied, before being more specific: “2011 is not possible.”

For 2011, this is “no”. For 2012, a “maybe” ... But for sure, Porsche seems to be interested in both a return in LMP1 and by the hybrid technology. Until then, Porsche and Hartmut Kristen will have a though season, with a target : to defend its titles in GT2.

Endurance-infor