Porsche has confirmed it will extend its FIA World Endurance Championship LMP1 program until the end of the 2018 season.

The announcement arrives just two months after recording a 17th outright victory at the prestigious Le Mans 24 Hours with its #19 919 Hybrid, piloted by Formula 1 star Nico Hulkenberg, Kiwi Earl Bamber and Brit Nick Tandy.

Porsche returned to top level sportscar racing in 2014 with its V4 petrol engined 919 Hybrid, featuring Australian Mark Webber and New Zealander Brendon Hartley among its group of full-time factory drivers.

After a solitary victory in 2014, Porsche has since improved its LMP1 challenger by developing a revolutionary 8 mega joule hybrid energy recovery system.

The confirmed two-year program extension will see the Stuttgart manufacturer compete under the new FIA WEC LMP1 regulations set to be introduced in 2017.

“Motorsport is an important part of Porsche’s brand identity – but not an end in itself,” said Porsche chairman Matthias Müller.

“Racing has got to help the technology of future road going sports cars.

“It was the revolutionary efficiency regulations that convinced us to return to top-level motorsport for the 2014 season.

“That we have managed to take the crown jewels of endurance racing in only our second year, with a one-two result in Le Mans in 2015 with our highly innovative and complex 919, is an outstanding testimony to the people in the Weissach research and development centre.

“The competition bears fruits and we see further potential for future synergy between the racing and road car programmes. This is why we have extended the programme.”

Porsche leads the FIA WEC Manufacturers’ Championship with a 16 point margin over Audi heading in this weekend’s fourth round at the Nurburgring 6 Hours.