Porsche entered the 2023 DTM season with high hopes, fielding three teams. However, as the season draws to a close, it seems that only one team, Manthey EMA, is committed to continuing in the series next year. Team Bernhard has made the decision to step down from GT3 racing due to the exorbitant costs involved, while Toksport WRT is still in discussions with Porsche regarding its future involvement.
Toksport WRT: A Promising Start Followed by a Disappointing Season
Toksport WRT made a splash on its DTM debut, outshining the entire field at Oschersleben and securing an impressive victory with driver Christian Engelhart. The team also notched up two additional podium finishes with Engelhart and rookie Tim Heinemann. Heinemann even took the lead in the championship standings early in the season. However, this initial success proved to be short-lived, as the team failed to break into the top 10 in the remaining seven rounds of the season. Even a mid-season driver change, replacing Engelhart with Marvin Dienst, failed to turn around their fortunes.
While Team Bernhard occasionally showed promise with two podium finishes and a pole position by Laurin Heinrich, no Porsche team was able to challenge the dominance of the championship-winning Manthey EMA operation. Critics question whether Porsche would allow another team to surpass or even match the performance of Manthey EMA. This concern may have played a role in deterring SSR Performance from entering the 2023 season with Porsche, as they ultimately joined forces with rival brand Lamborghini. Porsche, however, asserts that it supports all its teams equally, providing technical support, spare parts, and in some cases, performance support.
Manthey EMA, with its close ties to Porsche as a 51% owned entity, can be considered a pseudo-factory effort. This presents a challenge for other Porsche teams hoping to surpass their performance. Manthey’s involvement in the DTM may have acted as a deterrent for other teams, such as Bernhard and SSR Performance. While Porsche maintains that it treats all its teams equally, the reality of the situation suggests otherwise. Manthey’s financial position is excellent, and their experience with the 911 GT3 R surpasses that of any other team.
At present, the interest in the DTM among other Porsche teams seems to be quite limited. With Team Bernhard’s exit, the question arises as to which team or teams will step in to fill the void. Rutronik, Allied Racing, the Joos team, and Sven Schnabl’s team are all potential candidates. However, no concrete indications suggest that any of these teams are actively considering entering the DTM. Additionally, the switch from Falken to Pirelli tyres mandated by the DTM rules presents further complications for some potential entrants.
An Expensive Endeavor: The High Costs of Porsche in the DTM
Participating in the DTM with a Porsche is no small investment. The 911 GT3 R is a pricey car, and coupled with the high level of performance and the one-driver-per-car concept of the DTM, the championship proves to be an expensive endeavor. It is understandable that teams may hesitate to commit fully to the DTM given the significant financial burden involved.
As the 2023 DTM season comes to a close, it appears that there will be a maximum of two Porsche teams competing in the series next year. The future of Porsche in the DTM is uncertain, and the loss of Team Bernhard is a blow to the field. Will the remaining teams be able to challenge the supremacy of Manthey EMA? Only time will tell. As 2024 approaches, it is crucial for Porsche and its teams to reevaluate their strategies and find ways to level the playing field. The DTM needs diverse competition to thrive, and the presence of multiple strong Porsche teams would undoubtedly enhance the excitement of the series.
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