The suspicion of despair has been lingering on Porsche endurance racing program. There were reports of the German giant potentially cut or even withdraw the plug on its WEC and IMSA LMDh programmes as Volkswagen Group consider ways to tighten its belt. However, Porsche is not prepared to allow such rumours to prevail. The brand insists: there is nothing resolved yet- some information of utmost importance to racing fans who view Porsche as the DNA of endurance racing.

The talk of Porsche downsizing has increased in the recent weeks. Basic budgetary concerns, priorities and corporate streamlining led to anecdotes of the long-term plans of Porsche being jeopardized. But Porsche has now intervened to ease the situation. A spokesperson insisted that we are still in talks and that nothing was decided on whether to continue the Porsche WEC IMSA or not.

That clarity is important. The company has invested a fortune into its 963 prototype by entering it in FIA World Endurance Championship as well as IMSA Sports Car Championship. Not just marketing, these programs are evidence of Porsche in the world of endurance racing.

Naturally, all this does not come at a reasonable price. Conducting two or more campaigns in WEC and in the IMSA does not only demand finances, but also a global team and impeccable logistics. As Volkswagen Group reduced its costs on all levels, the inherent question appears whether an expensive motorsport project can be kept alive.

Nevertheless, Porsche is far too premature to part. It has too much of a history to lose in Le Mans and North America.

The very thought of the Porsche pulling back seems to a gut punch to many fans. It is a brand that has authored some of the best books in the endurance racing history. Miraculous Le Mans victory, the reign of IMSA in America, the Porsche has always been the same.

The current LMDh program is regarded as a follow-up of the same narrative. Porsche is in a competitive industry alongside other players such as Toyota, Ferrari, Cadillac, and BMW, which are car manufacturers, making the world go mad with the race. The attendants simply suggest the idea of withdrawal that is enough to trigger terror of having disrupted one of the most traditional bits of racing story.

Timing is everything here. Endurance racing is now innovating with more manufactures reuniting with converged rules that have granted worldwide competition. One of the pillars of this rebirth is Porsche. Should it decide to downsizing, it would affect not only in its own garage but also in the championships themselves.

Porsche is pursuing Toyota and Ferrari during WEC in Le Mans. IMSA is on a fight over Cadillac and Acura. With Porsche folded, the grids would not look, and feel, the same way. It is familiar to fans and competing producers.

Temporarily, Porsche is clinging to the rope: a verdict about the continuity of the Porsche WEC IMSA has not yet been determined. There might be rumors, but the company is determined to race its 963 on both sides of the Atlantic. Whether it’s decided in the boardrooms just as much as on the track, sure one thing is obvious, endurance racing will be listening keenly to whatever Porsche has to say.