Qatar 1812: Is Porsche the 2024 World Endurance Dark Horse?

By Michele Lupini - February 29, 2024

With the Qatar WEC opener on Saturday, 2024 has started far better for Porsche with the Daytona 24 win and quick Prologue pace.

Porsche did not exactly cover itself in World Endurance glory in 2023, but the new season seems to have commenced of the front foot for the Zufferhausen carmaker. Le Mans ‘23 proved a disaster in spite of Porsche having by far the most entries, even humbled by the privateer Glickenhaus duo. Even worse, Ferrari rubbed salt in the wounds with its return win, 50 years later in the centennial running.

It improved through the season and Porsche duly ended third in WEC ’23, albeit without a win. But 2024 has started far better. Penske Porsche (above) has already won the jewel in WEC sister series IMSA’s crown Daytona 24 to set the ball rolling in January. And then the 963s starred in this past week’s disrupted Losail, Qatar WEC Prologue in the lead up to Saturday’s season-opening Qatar 1812 km race.

Porsches Showed Great Pace in Qatar WEC Prologue

The JOTA 963s (above) were quickest in both Monday sessions, before the factory Penske Porsches took over on Tuesday. Even more impressive was Porsche’s long run pace. Although shaded by Cadillac, the factory cars were second and third quickest in those crucial race simulation tests. Not that anyone really takes testing pace as a reliable indicator these days, but those 963s’ pace is indeed another good omen.

The other talking point leading up to Losail is the WEC Balance of Performance for Qatar. Porsche loses 9 kW from 514 and gains two kilos to 1046 kg. That compares to Toyota powered down to 510 kW and heavier at 1089 kg. Ferrari has lost 2 kW, but remains at 1075 kg, while The Cadillac drops five to 499 kW and gains two kilos to 1032 kg.

Peugeot however drops 9 kg to 1030 kilos at an unchanged 520kW. Of the newcomers, Alpine will race at 510 kW and 1070 kg, BMW at 506 kW and 1060 kg, Lamborghini’s at 1041 kg and 502 kW. and Isotta Fraschini at 514kW and 1085 kg. Interestingly, Ferrari starts 2024 with the identical car to 2023. And Porsche is expected to only bring in upgrades including a new engine and other changes before Le Mans.

A Five Car Porsche Effort at Qatar

Looking at the 2024 WEC grid, Porsche returns with a five-car effort. There are two Penske factory 963s For Matt Campbell, Michael Christensen and Fred Makowiecki. And Kevin Estre, Andre Lotterer, and Laurens Vanthoor. Add two JOTA 963s for Will Stevens, Norman Nato and Callum Ilott, and Oliver Rasmussen, F1 champion Jenson Button. And Phil Hanson, and a Proton car for Harry Tincknell, Neel Jani, and Julien Andlauer.

The real WEC drawcard for 2024 starting at Qatar is however the diversity of the Hypercar field, with nineteen cars starting in Qatar and many more due by Le Mans. Five-time champions Toyota Gazoo Racing continue with a pair of GR010 Hybrids, while 2023 Le Mans winners and WEC runners-up Ferrari have added third, yellow Hypercar along with the existing two red 499Ps.

Cadillac is back with a solo V-Series, and Peugeot has a pair of highly revised 9X8 Hybrids. But wait, there’s more! BMW, Lamborghini, Alpine and Isotta Fraschini all make their World Endurance debuts at Losail. BMW and Alpine have two cars at Losail, Lamborghini and Isotta one apiece.

Don’t Forget the Two Porsche 911 GT3 R LMGT3

Also of Porsche interest, are two Manthey 911 GT3 R LMGT3 entries in the all-new LMGT3 class,. Which has attracted a diverse 18-car entry in Qatar. The Porsches will be pedaled by Yasser Shahin, Morris Schuring and Richard Lietz, and Aliaksandr Malykhin, Joel Sturm and Klaus Bachler.

They face up to none other than MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi in one of two BMW M4 LMGT3s. There are also two car LMGT3 entries for a couple of Ferrari 296 LMGT3s, a pair of Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo2s,. Including one for the all-girl Iron Dames team. Add two Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs, and two Aston Martin Vantage LMGT3s. Plus two Lexus RC-F LMGT3s and McLaren 720S LMGT3s, and Ford Mustang LMGT3s each.

The eight-round Road to Le Mans WEC commences in Qatar. Well before dawn US time this Saturday before Imola in Italy on 2 April, Spa, Belgium 11 May, and Le Mans 15-16 June. Then it’s off to Sao Paulo in Brazil, Texas in the US, Japan,. And finally back to the Gulf for Bahrain.