Photo: Porsche
German automaker Porsche considered returning to Formula One before it decided to stage a Le Mans comeback in 2014, a company representative revealed at the 2013 Shanghai Auto Show.
According to R&D boss Wolfgang Hatz, Porsche could have raced in Formula One for the third time in its history, but Stuttgart’s managing team eventually voted to try and revive its endurance racing glory.
“We are a sports car company. Porsche has always lived for the transfer of racing to production cars. For that reason it was clear two or three years ago that we had to be back in high-level motorsport, and it was a choice between top-flight sports cars or Formula 1,” said Hatz.
“But the final decision was the only logical one. F1 was an alternative, but the road relevance is not there. Also, there is a lot of publicity around politics and tyres, but not so much about the engines and chassis. The aero, too, is incredible, but so extreme that it cannot result in any development in our road car understanding.”
Porsche entered Formula One for the first time in 1962 with the 804 race car, scoring only one official victory. The Germans returned to F1 in 1983 as engine suppliers for McLaren, winning two constructors championships in 1984 and 1985 and three drivers titles between 1984 and 1986.
Story via Autocar
“We are a sports car company. Porsche has always lived for the transfer of racing to production cars. For that reason it was clear two or three years ago that we had to be back in high-level motorsport, and it was a choice between top-flight sports cars or Formula 1,” said Hatz.
“But the final decision was the only logical one. F1 was an alternative, but the road relevance is not there. Also, there is a lot of publicity around politics and tyres, but not so much about the engines and chassis. The aero, too, is incredible, but so extreme that it cannot result in any development in our road car understanding.”
Porsche entered Formula One for the first time in 1962 with the 804 race car, scoring only one official victory. The Germans returned to F1 in 1983 as engine suppliers for McLaren, winning two constructors championships in 1984 and 1985 and three drivers titles between 1984 and 1986.
Story via Autocar
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