– Despite extensive structural changes taking place as part of the newly negotiated corporate restructuring at Porsche AG, motorsport chief Thomas Laudenbach confirms that the manufacturer’s commitments in international endurance racing remain fully on track.
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When specifically asked about the program that Porsche runs together with the factory team Penske in the GTP class of the IMSA SportsCar Championship, Laudenbach confirms that the deployment of two vehicles will continue as planned. “That is correct. Nothing has changed about that,” says Laudenbach.
Laudenbach’s statements come at a time of significant strategic realignment of the parent company. On July 27, Porsche AG announced its comprehensive “Future Package” as the basis of its overarching strategy “Sports Car Forge 35”.
The package includes investments totaling 2.1 billion euros by 2035 in the Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen and Weissach sites and guarantees for job security. However, to increase productivity and reduce operating costs, the agreement foresees “a socially responsible reduction of 5,000 jobs by 2035.” This is to be achieved through natural attrition, voluntary severance packages, and extended partial retirement programs.
Mastering Restructuring and Budgets
These cuts follow earlier reductions, including the elimination of 3,900 positions at the beginning of 2025 and the loss of 500 jobs due to the closure of subsidiaries. Further measures include postponing 3.5 percent of salary increases, restrictions in the area of home office, as well as cuts to the annual Christmas bonuses.
At the same time, Porsche is moderating its originally ambitious targets for the introduction of electric vehicles and is extending the production cycles for combustion engines and hybrid systems alongside the electric models.
When asked how this changing corporate environment affects the motorsport sector, Laudenbach admits that budgets and strategies are continuously reviewed, but decisions regarding the core programs remain unchanged.
“We are evolving,” says Laudenbach. “We have to deal with it. That is no secret and of course we are dealing with it. But so far there is no change regarding our decisions.”
“That does not mean that we are not evolving. That does not mean that we are not discussing. That does not mean that we are not seriously dealing with budgets and everything else. But the decision still stands.”
Looking at the Technical Rules for 2030
Beyond current commitments, the umbrella organizations IMSA, ACO, and FIA recently presented plans for a unified, cross-platform regulation for the top class of international prototype racing from 2030 onwards. The transition to a unified platform aims to reduce costs while harmonizing the rules for the IMSA SportsCar Championship and the World Endurance Championship (WEC).
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When asked by Motorsport.com, sister platform of Motorsport-Total.com in the Motorsport Network, how the recently presented “Future Package” by Porsche AG might affect the company’s short- and long-term racing strategy, Laudenbach emphasizes that the German automaker continues to actively shape the future of the sport.
“What we do is, of course, the here and now. We have always said that,” says Laudenbach. “The mere fact that we are currently not competing in the WEC does not mean that we have turned our back on endurance racing in general. Le Mans is the biggest endurance race in the world. And of course, we are involved in the discussions about the rules for 2030. We are pleased to be invited and are happy to contribute.”
“And we look forward to working together with the other manufacturers, the umbrella organization, IMSA, ACO, and FIA on the future of motorsport. That has nothing to do with the decision. In general, of course, we try to contribute to achieving a good rule set for the future,” says the Porsche motorsport chief.
“Two Wins Are Not Enough”: Measuring Success on the Track
On the racetrack, Porsche Penske Motorsport celebrated outstanding victories at the start of the current IMSA season 2026. They won overall at both the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring. However, maintaining top performance on different track layouts and under changing conditions – keyword BoP – remains a constant challenge.
When Motorsport.com follows up and asks how he evaluates a successful season when reporting to the board, Laudenbach makes it clear that early outstanding wins are not enough for the long-term standards at Porsche Penske Motorsport.
“No easy answer,” Laudenbach begins his remarks on this question. “I think we have won two of the most important races of the season, namely Daytona and Sebring. We even won Daytona three times in a row. And I think the way we mastered Sebring was pretty good. Checked off, great. But when we talk about a successful season, two wins are not enough. There has to be more.”
“For various reasons, we are not satisfied with how the season has gone since then. We don’t like that. But we are racers, we never stop fighting. In qualifying, we are about a second behind. That is disappointing, but it does not mean we are not fighting.”
“Of course, we want to win races, and in the end, hopefully, we can make a successful season out of it. So far, we have had two good races. That is not enough,” says the Porsche motorsport chief.
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