Acura’s IMSA exit “bad for everybody” as Porsche’s Kuratle warns it may have started a trend

Urs Kuratle, Head of LMDH Porsche Motorsport, Roger Penske, Team Penske

Kuratle went on to also share his concern that Acura’s pause, which could become a permanent departure, could become a signal of things to come with other manufacturers.

“I am worried that it is a trend which is coming,” Kuratle said. “That is a trend that people are... I am asking the question, is it a trend that people are leaving already just to see because it's too expensive? I hope it's not a trend. But it worries me because every time people are leaving the championship it's bad because of the competition.

“We touched on this one already. Yeah, it seems they are concentrating on other series, on other championships which is their decision to make.

“But I am really worried that there are less people here because it makes it less interesting for everyone.”

The partnership between Porsche Motorsport and Team Penske, which is aptly recognized as Porsche Penske Motorsport in sports car racing, currently runs through the end 2027. Although there was some thought the group could prematurely end its involvement in IMSA similar to what it did in the FIA World Endurance Championship, Kuratle stated the intention to see the agreement through its full length.

“We are all on contracts and we definitely hold all the contracts,” he said. “What's beyond this is basically the same answer as before. We have to see what's best for the brand. But we definitely stay and stick with whatever has been agreed beforehand.”

But that also doesn’t mean Porsche isn’t willing to continue beyond 2027, and instead could put a similar pause on the program and restart it with the much-anticipated 2030 technical regulations that could unify GTP and Hypercar programs.

“At the moment, everything is possible,” Kuratle said. “Every scenario you could think of is possible that we do it. It's actually definitely way too early to talk about these things.

“We don't know internally yet. Once again, it's the same answer. We have to evaluate what's best for the brand. As I said, everything is possible.”

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