Porsche Motorsport teams up with Multimatic to build its LMDh racing cars. As of 2023, the racing prototypes fitted with a hybrid powertrain system will compete in the newly created top class of the world’s two most important sports car championships: the FIA World Endurance Championship WEC and the North American IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Porsche Motorsport chose the Multimatic chassis as the basis for the development of Porsche’s LMDh prototype. The car will also compete for overall victories in the endurance classics at Daytona, Sebring, and Le Mans as of 2023. The recently created Porsche Penske Motorsport team will field the factory cars.
Choice out of 4 manufacturers
The regulations for the LMDh category stipulate that all prototypes in the new top-class must be based on the chassis of one of four approved manufacturers (Multimatic, Oreca, Dallara, and Ligier). The acronym LMDh stands for Le Mans Daytona Hybrid. The Volkswagen Group’s sister company Audi will also collaborate with Multimatic. This will result in more positive synergy effects in the joint development of these new racing cars.
Close to the other American motorsport partner: Penske Racing
“Multimatic is the most obvious and logical solution for us,” says Fritz Enzinger, Vice President Porsche Motorsport. “We know this highly respected company and its team of experienced professionals for many years. The quality of their work absolutely convinces us. We don’t have to set up a completely new business relationship with them. But we can hit the ground running. That’s vital and is exactly what is needed when developing a new racing car. It is imperative that we eliminate friction losses to ensure that we are able to do a perfect job and deliver what is needed fast. There’s another factor of inestimable benefit. One part of Multimatic, like our team partner Penske, is based in Mooresville in North Carolina. Short distances and direct lines of communication will help tremendously in the development of the future LMDh prototype and in competition.”
Reaction of Multimatic
“This partnership with Porsche Motorsport is the culmination of thirty years of building our expertise in the area of competition vehicle engineering and development. Multimatic considers it a privilege that Porsche chose us for their next chapter in global hybrid prototype competition“, comments Larry Holt, Executive Vice President, Multimatic Special Vehicle Operations.
“The LMDh concept and rules convergence between the FIA WEC and IMSA championships is unprecedented. Multimatic’s commitment to the new model is all-in. The collaboration has already proven to be seamless. The enthusiasm of the team is palpable in every meeting. I am equally delighted with the recent Porsche Penske Motorsport announcement as we have enjoyed a long relationship with Roger Penske and his organization, as both collaborator and competitor. I can think of no better team, than our North Carolina neighbor, to campaign the new cars.”
Multimatic
Multimatic is a privately held, global enterprise supplying engineered components, systems, and services to the automotive industry. Multimatic’s core competencies include the engineering and manufacturing of complex mechanisms, body hardware, suspension systems, and body structures, as well as the design and development of lightweight composite automotive systems. Additionally, Multimatic delivers niche vehicle design, development, and production for road and race applications.
Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, Multimatic has manufacturing divisions and engineering facilities in North America, Europe, and Asia. The company has been a key Porsche Motorsport partner for many years. Most recently it supplied shock absorbers to the new Porsche 911 GT3 Cup The Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo, which set a number of lap records on circuits such as the Nürburgring-Nordschleife in 2018, had suspension components installed. So had the Porsche 99X Electric Formula E car and the 911 RSR in the FIA World Endurance Championship.
Nex LMDh category
The new LMDh category will be part of the new top class at endurance classics such as Le Mans, Daytona, and Sebring as of 202. The category features a maximum in terms of cost-effectiveness. It will be based on a chassis that each brand is permitted to combine with its own individually styled bodywork. Despite the tight regulations, manufacturers have considerable freedom when it comes to the powertrain system. There are no specifications regarding the design and displacement of the combustion engine, for instance. Coupled with a standardized hybrid system, the engine will produce 500 kW (approx. 680 PS). The vehicle’s basic weight is specified at 1,030 kilograms.
Edited Porsche factory press release.
Pictures courtesy Porsche AG.
