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The real problems caused by Porsche's shock exit

Every possible route the World Endurance Championship could take in response to Porsche's departure is fraught with problems. Its decision is a turning point with implications across motorsport

Gary Watkins Jul 30, 2017, 10:19 AM

Porsche's withdrawal from LMP1 gives the World Endurance Championship a problem. Actually two problems - one short-term and one long-term.

The German manufacturer's decision means that we're either going to have a single manufacturer at the front of the field in the WEC and at the Le Mans 24 Hours next year or no manufacturers at all. Neither is a particularly satisfactory state of affairs.

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Author Gary Watkins

Gary Watkins has, for reasons best known to himself, devoted all his working life to covering sportscar racing. This season is his 33rd as a motorsport journalist, during which time he has reported on major long-distance events on four continents and approaching 80 24-hour races. He reckons a degree in political philosophy makes him well qualified for covering the sometimes Machiavellian world of international sportscars.

Gary, who also writes for Motor Sport, Autocourse, RACER and others, lives in Surbiton close to the former workshops of the Cooper Formula 1 team but spends more time on the road than at home for most of the year.