STUTTGART, Germany – Porsche Motorsport has formed a partnership with Team Penske that will see the two motorsports giants partner on the new LMDh sports car platform beginning in 2023.
Team Penske will work with Porsche Motorsports experts in Weissach, Germany, to field factory entries in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the FIA World Endurance Championship.
The program will operate under the name Porsche Penske Motorsport and field two LMDh prototypes in both IMSA and WEC. The contract between Porsche and Penske is a multi-year agreement.
“We are delighted that we were able to get Team Penske to form this partnership,” said Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche AG. “For the first time in the history of Porsche Motorsport, our company will have a global team competing in the world’s two largest endurance series. To this end, we will be setting up team bases on both sides of the Atlantic. This will enable us to create the optimal structures we will need to take overall victories at Le Mans, Daytona and Sebring, for example.”
“As of 2023, Porsche will compete in the major endurance racing series. Our intention is to support and shape the new era with our LMDh prototypes,” Dr. Michael Steiner, Board Member for Research and Development, emphasized. “Not only will we be keeping our fingers crossed for the four factory cars we have in total, but also for our customer teams. The new LMDh vehicle will also be entered as a customer car in both series as early as the 2023 season. These partner teams will be given our full support. Whatever insights we gain from our factory effort will also be shared with them.”
Team Penske most recently competed in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in 2020 via a partnership with Acura. That partnership was dissolved at the conclusion of the 2020 season after Helio Castroneves and Ricky Taylor claimed the DPi class championship for the team.
“Porsche and Penske share a proven track record of success. This partnership had a lasting impact from 2006 to 2008 on what was then the American Le Mans Series,” said Fritz Enzinger, Head of Porsche Motorsport, delighted about the renewed collaboration with the US team. “Team Penske has made a name for itself with an almost unparalleled success story in motorsport. In the long list of victories to date, however, the name Le Mans has been missing. I hope that we will finally be able to chalk up this success as of 2023 with Porsche Penske Motorsport. This would then mark Porsche’s 20th overall victory at the Sarthe – a dream come true.”
This is not the first time Team Penske has worked with Porsche. Utilizing the Porsche RS Spyder, Team Penske claimed three-straight LMP2 class championships from 2006 to ’08. In the 1970s, Team Penske competed with the Porsche 917/30 in the Can-Am series.
“This is a proud day for our entire Penske organization. We have represented Porsche on the track or in our businesses for more than six decades. The heritage and success we have enjoyed together is unparalleled throughout our history,” said Team Penske owner Roger Penske. “I can’t wait to get started as we build a global racing program with Porsche that will compete for wins and championships well into the future.”
Porsche Motorsport will house its American operation out of Team Penske’s shop in Mooresville, N.C.