Uncertain future for Hartley, Bamber
Kiwi motorsport stars Brendon Hartley and Earl Bamber have been regulars on the World Endurance Series podium, but they both could be looking for new jobs next year.
The duo have been in top form in the championship this year where, alongside German Timo Bernhard, they claimed the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans title earlier this year.
But rumours Porsche are set to withdraw from the WEC at the end of the year have been gaining steam coupled with suggestions they are looking towards joining F1 and Formula E.
Germany’s Auto Motor Sport reported that Porsche was involved in a F1 engine group meeting earlier this month.
And Porsche’s LMP1 team principal Andreas Seidl did not rule out the move.
‘‘There’s not more to say than what is around in the press and we have to simply wait now for the next decision,’’ Seidl said. ‘‘I have nothing to comment on this at the moment. We expect a decision at the end of July.’’
It would be a major blow for endurance specialists Hartley and Bamber who would be potentially left without full-time drives.
But if Porsche were to make the shift, it would not be down to performance.
Their No 2 car has finished on the podium in each of the first four rounds of the WEC and is coming off back-to-back wins in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Six Hours of Nurburgring.
They sit on top of the LMP1 ladder with five rounds remaining.
It is Hartley’s fourth year in the team with Bamber replacing Australian Mark Webber this year.
Hartley was part of the 2015 championship team.
Bamber has been associated with Porsche since 2013 and was one of the drivers in the team’s third car entered in the 2015 24 Hours of Le Mans which went on to win the race.
The WEC is competed over four categories - LMP1, LMP2, LMGTE Pro and LMGTE Am.
It is the LMP1 that would be most heavily affected by a Porsche withdrawal. There are just six cars involved in the LMP1 this year.
If Porsche were to remove their two cars, it would leave just one factory team, Toyota, putting the series at risk.
Audi pulled thier entry out of the competition at the end of 2016.
While Peugeot are believed to be interested in returning to the series, it is unlikely they will be ready to replace Porsche next year.
Toyota’s Pascal Vasselon told Autosport he was not sure what a Porsche withdrawal would mean for them.
‘‘We will rethink our strategy when the conditions change: I cannot elaborate more on something that has not materialised.’’