A statement from Proton Competition just issued confirms that there will be no Hypercar programme from the German outfit in the 2025 FIA WEC in the wake of the withdrawal of the factory Porsche Penske Motorsport effort.
The statement makes it clear that huge effort has been expended in an attempt to draw together the required two-car WEC effort but that ultimately it has not come to fruition.
A two-car, factory-approved entry was required for Proton to continue, a single car privateer return not possible under the current rules without a two-car full season presence.
Negotiations with Porsche, Penske Motorsport and with other commercial backers have been going on at a pace for several weeks, including this week, but have not reached a successful conclusion.
The release of the entry list for the 2026 FIA WEC is understood to have been delayed to accommodate last ditch efforts to finalise a programme. That entry is now likely to be issued early next week without any representative, factory or private, from Porsche in the Hypercar class.
The statement reads:
Despite making every effort to continue the Hypercar programme, Proton Competition will not be entering a Porsche 963 in the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2026.
Following the departure of Porsche Penske Motorsport from the FIA WEC, Christian and Michael Ried’s team have left no stone unturned in their pursuit of campaigning two Porsche 963 in the championship next year. However, it was not possible to reach an agreement with Porsche that would have allowed the cars to be entered privately.
“We would like to thank all of our partners and supporters who have fought so hard over the past few weeks to realise this project,” said team owner Christian Ried. “We gave it everything, but unfortunately it was not possible to find a solution together with Porsche, we feel particularly sorry for Porsche fans, who won’t be able to see a 963 on the grid in the FIA WEC or at Le Mans. Endurance racing has always been a part of Porsche’s DNA, and that was a huge source of motivation as we attempted to reach an agreement with them.”
Proton Competition competed a Porsche 963 in the Hypercar class of the FIA WEC in 2025 and frequently got the better of works competitors. Sporting its retro F.A.T. livery, the car was also an eye-catching presence on the racetrack.
“Without partners like Ferdi Porsche and F.A.T., Mustang Sampling and Ken and Brenda Thompson, we would never have been able to get this project up and running – so our thanks go to them,” Ried added. “The ACO and LMEM also supported us right until the very end in our quest to remain in the Hypercar class.”
This decision does not affect any other programmes involving Porsche cars. As before any season, potential entries are being evaluated on an ongoing basis in order to put together the strongest possible programme for Proton Competition.
