WEC Bahrain
Porsche customer Proton announces exit from WEC Hypercar
Porsche is set to have no presence on the 2026 Hypercar grid as Proton confirms withdrawal
Rachit Thukral
Edited: Dec 5, 2025, 12:11 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
#99 Proton Competition Porsche 963: Neel Jani, Nicolas Pino, Nicolas Varrone
Photo by: Shameem Fahath / Motorsport Network
Proton Competition has announced that it will not field the Porsche 963 LMDh in the World Endurance Championship’s Hypercar class in 2026.
Following Porsche Penske Motorsport’s shock withdrawal from the championship, the German manufacturer’s only remaining hope of staying on the Hypercar grid rested with customer team Proton Competition.
The situation was complicated by a new regulation introduced at the start of 2025 requiring each manufacturer to enter two cars in the championship.
Proton, which stepped up to Hypercar midway through 2023, has always run a single 963 in the WEC, with its second chassis competing in the IMSA SportsCar Championship.
Although team boss Christian Ried had already stated in last month’s Bahrain finale that Proton didn’t have the funding to expand to a two-car operation, it was widely reported that last-minute discussions were underway to keep the team on the grid.
It is understood that Porsche’s factory partner Team Penske was exploring a private partnership with Proton Competition to make a two-car Hypercar entry possible.
Such a partnership would have also allowed Porsche Penske Motorsport to take up the auto-invite it secured for the Le Mans 24 Hours by winning the 2025 IMSA GTP title.
However, such talks appear to have come to a nought, with Proton revealing on Friday that it will not continue its Hypercar programme for a fourth season in 2026.
“Despite weeks of discussions and every effort from our side, our team Proton Competition will not be able to field a Porsche 963 in the 2026 FIA WEC,” it said in a statement, without mentioning any collaboration with Penske.
#5 Proton Competition Porsche 963: Neel Jani, Nico Varrone, Nico Pino
Photo by: Art Fleischmann
“After the exit of Porsche Penske Motorsport, Christian and Michael Ried explored every possible option to keep two Porsche 963s on the grid next season. Unfortunately, the conditions needed for a private entry could not be reached.
“We want to express our gratitude to the people who stood with us throughout this journey: Ferdi Porsche, F.A.T., Mustang Sampling, Ken & Brenda Thompson. And a warm thank-you also to ACO and LMEM for being by our side until the very last moment.
“To all Porsche fans: we know this will be disappointing. We truly hoped to continue seeing the 963 racing in WEC and at Le Mans, and that same passion motivated us to keep pushing for a solution. Still, we look back proudly at what was achieved.”
Despite its departure from Hypercar, Proton is expected to remain a presence in the WEC thanks to its LMGT3 programme with a pair of Ford Mustang GT3 Evos.
“This update concerns only the 963 project,” Proton clarified. “All our other Porsche programmes continue to be evaluated as we shape the best possible lineup for the future of Proton Competition.”
Proton will also be absent from IMSA’s GTP class next year, with the team missing from the entry list for the 2026 season.
Read Also:
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article V8-powered Toyota GR GT3 launched to replace Lexus RC F GT3
Next article Porsche 963 completely absent as WEC publishes 35-car entry list for 2026
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Rachit Thukral
Dan Ticktum secures Formula E Gen4 berth with newly-acquired Fortescue Zero team
Formula E
Formula E 1 h
Dan Ticktum secures Formula E Gen4 berth with newly-acquired Fortescue Zero team
Marc Marquez targeting “as close to 37 points as possible” at Aprilia-friendly Phillip Island
MotoGP
MotoGP
Australian GP
2 h
Marc Marquez targeting “as close to 37 points as possible” at Aprilia-friendly Phillip Island
More from
Proton Competition
Why Logan Sargeant does not miss Formula 1 as he makes his WEC debut
WEC
WEC
Imola
Why Logan Sargeant does not miss Formula 1 as he makes his WEC debut
Keating returns to WEC with Proton Ford squad for Austin
WEC
WEC
COTA
Keating returns to WEC with Proton Ford squad for Austin
Porsche customer Proton eyeing second car in WEC and IMSA
WEC
WEC
Porsche customer Proton eyeing second car in WEC and IMSA
Latest news
Red Bull called Christian Horner to thank him for F1 engine project after maiden win
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
27 min
Red Bull called Christian Horner to thank him for F1 engine project after maiden win
Jon Armstrong announces WRC co-driver split for 2027
WRC
WRC WRC 29 min
Jon Armstrong announces WRC co-driver split for 2027
Alex Marquez: Decision to travel to Qatar should not be made right now
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
1 h
Alex Marquez: Decision to travel to Qatar should not be made right now
Autosport Business Exchange New York Examines the Forces Driving Racing’s Next Era of Growth in America
General
Misc General 1 h
Autosport Business Exchange New York Examines the Forces Driving Racing’s Next Era of Growth in America
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe