Porsche teases its new LMDh prototype, announces factory drivers

Porsche has taken its first steps towards unprecedented glory in endurance racing, teasing its new LMDh prototype for the first time.

Set to run under the new World Endurance Championship (WEC) and IMSA Sportscar Championship regulations for 2023, the Le Mans Daytona hybrid (LMDh) rules will allow Porsche to race its challenger in the European and North American championships.

Built by Multimac, the racing operations will be entrusted to US powerhouse Team Penske under the Porsche Penske Motorsport banner, assisting Porsche in its aim of achieving record wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and 24 Hours of Daytona – events which the German manufacturer has won 19 and 22 times respectively.

8

Porsche CEO Oliver Blume said motorsport is integral to the brand's DNA, with its withdrawal from WEC at the end of 2018 fuelling the hunger to return to the track.

"Motorsports have always had a special role to play in Porsche's corporate strategy, and for more than 70 years now we have used the racing stage as the testing ground for our latest technologies," said Blume.

"We face great challenges today – in both sporting and organisational terms. We are determined to play an active role in shaping the future, while ensuring we retain our motorsports DNA.

8

In accordance with LMDh rules, combined power from its internal combustion engine and spec electric motors will be capped at 500kW, with all cars in the category racing on a spec chassis, rather than the Le Mans Hypercar (LMH) vehicles which it will be competing for outright wins against.

Alongside the semi-reveal of the car, Porsche announced its first two factory drivers to join the programme, with Dane Cameron and Felipe Nasr set to pilot the as-yet-unnamed prototype in 2023.

Cameron is a two-time winner of the IMSA championship – most recently in 2019 for Team Penske – while Nasr raced full-time in Formula One for Sauber in 2015 and 2016, having achieved a best finish of fifth place on debut at the Australian Grand Prix before moving to IMSA where he won the 2018 and 2021 titles.

8