The World Endurance Championship has launched a 35-car entry record for the 2026 season, confirming that Porsche could have no presence within the Hypercar class.
The German producer won’t battle for outright glory within the 2026 WEC following the withdrawal of its Porsche Penske Motorsport manufacturing unit group and its buyer squad Proton Competitors.
Porsche’s future within the class had appeared unsure since October, when it introduced the closure of its works programme in Hypercar amid declining highway automobile gross sales.
Proton made it clear finally month’s Bahrain WEC finale that it lacked the funding to increase its operations to 2 automobiles as a way to meet the championship’s eligibility standards for producers.
Though a late push was made to maintain the Porsche 963 on the grid in privateer arms, with Penske reportedly concerned, Proton confirmed final week that it’s going to not proceed its Hypercar programme into 2026.
Porsche Penske Motorsport nonetheless holds an computerized entry to the Le Mans 24 Hours as a reward for successful the IMSA GTP title this yr, but it surely can’t take up the invite until it maintains a presence throughout the total eight-round world championship.
The departure of each PPM and Proton means there might be 17 automobiles competing in Hypercar subsequent season, down from 18 this yr.
Porsche’s exit has been partially offset by the arrival of Hyundai’s luxurious arm Genesis, which can area a pair of Oreca-based GMR-001 LMDh prototypes following an in depth testing programme over the yr.
Andre Lotterer, Pipo Derani and Mathys Jaubert will drive Genesis’ #17 entry, whereas Daniel Juncadella, Mathieu Jaminet and Paul-Loup Chatin will share the #19 automobile.
There are not any main adjustments elsewhere, with reigning champion Ferrari, Toyota, Aston Martin, Cadillac, Alpine and Peugeot all persevering with their presence in Hypercar subsequent yr. Amongst these, Toyota, BMW, Cadillac and Alpine are all introducing main upgrades to their LMH or LMDh prototypes subsequent season. In whole, eight manufacturers will vie for high honours within the WEC in 2026.
There might be only one entry within the FIA World Cup for Hypercar, a sub-category reserved for privateer or buyer groups. AF Corse’s satellite tv for pc #83 Ferrari 499P would be the solely non-factory entry within the high class following Proton’s exit.
2026 LMGT3 grid
Begin motion, LMGT3
Photograph by: FIAWEC – DPPI
The LMGT3 class will proceed to draw 18 entries in 2026, cut up equally amongst 9 producers – Aston Martin, Ferrari, BMW, Corvette, McLaren, Mercedes, Ford, Lexus and Porsche.
Nevertheless, there might be a number of group adjustments in what’s going to solely be the third season for the LMGT3 class following its introduction in 2024.
Firstly, the all-female Iron Dames will go away the LMGT3 class solely, as introduced final month, with each Porsche 911 GT3 Rs subsequently working below the Manthey banner in 2026. Whereas the German squad is but to announce its full line-up – laws require groups to call only one driver at this stage – it has revealed that reigning DTM champion Ayhancan Guven will spearhead the second entry that beforehand raced below the Iron Dames moniker.
Elsewhere, Garage59 will take over the working of McLaren’s LMGT3 programme, as United Autosports shifts focus to the event of the British producer’s LMDh programme for 2027.
One other change considerations Aston Martin, with Racing Spirit of Leman departing the LMGT3 class after only one season. The Coronary heart of Racing group will now run each Vantage GT3s below its personal identify.
Lastly, the Lexus RC F GT3 will stay on the grid with ASP for an additional season, with its successor – the Toyota GR GT3 that was revealed final week – now set to debut in 2027.
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