Andre Lotterer says that Porsche’s decision to quit the LMP1 class of the World Endurance Championship “leaves a huge hole” in motorsport.
Porsche announced that it will shut down its LMP1 hybrid program, which has thus far realised two WEC titles and three straight Le Mans 24 Hour wins, and move into Formula E.
Lotterer only joined Porsche this year after losing his WEC drive when Audi also quit the championship and entered Formula E just 12 months earlier.
“For me it’s sad to experience that two years in a row,” said Lotterer.
“I obviously had the situation last year with Audi and made the choice to come to Porsche to continue racing in this category.
“It’s pretty sad for motorsport in general, because it leaves a huge hole.
“I feel fortunate I could be part of it.”
Porsche announced all of its current LMP1 drivers, which includes Kiwis Earl Bamber and Brendon Hartley, will remain under contract but has not elaborated on details.
With its newly-announced Formula E project aiming to be on the grid at the start of its sixth season in 2019, race seats will be limited to its various GT programmes until then.
Lotterer, who has been critical of Formula E in the past, is warming to the idea of joining the electric championship.
“I’m open to new challenges,” he said. “There’s no point in hanging onto something that’s not there anymore.
“At the beginning people who were used to traditional motorsport were not very impressed, but I don’t think you can compare. It’s not fair.
“It seems it has a really good future.
“Once they start putting in newer technology with more performance it will be interesting on that type of circuits.
“They have really good drivers in it, so it would be nice to challenge them.”
Porsche stablemate Timo Bernhard was the first man to ever drive the Porsche 919 Hybrid. Last month the German took the car’s final Le Mans win with Hartley and Bamber.
“It’s been a great honour to be part of this programme since day one, seeing from scratch how it developed,” said Bernhard, whose #2 entry leads the WEC championship by 30 points.
“Formula E is overall a very promising championship.
“For me, the most important thing to stay with the brand.
“I will stay with Porsche for sure. (In terms of) the programme, we will have to see what’s going to happen.”
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