924Board.org

[N-Dub]

Porsche used to race Formula 1 back in the day, so why not today? Formula 1 is the peak of all racing events, so why isn't Porsche out to strut some of their stuff? Is it just because they are afraid of losing?
_________________
'79 924 now Totaled! Carrera GT bodywork for sale!
'87 951

[Llamaguy]

I think it's that Porsche doesn't/didn't have the money to really go into it.
_________________
1987 924S Guards Red
1997 Suzuki Tl1000 Supersport

[Paul]

Porsche is the most profitable car company on the planet, they have the money!

What they don't like IMO is the way the rules change every year. V-10s 900 hp last year, V-8s 700 hp this year. One lap qualifying last year, 3 elimination qualifying this year. No tire changes last year, 7 sets this year. The list goes on....
_________________
White 87 924S "Ghost"
Silver 98 986 3.6l 320 HP "Frank N Stein"
White 01 986 "Christine"
Polar Silver 02 996TT. "Turbo"
Owned and repaired 924s since 1977
Porsche: It's not driving, it's therapy.

[Tigger937]

Paul is spot on. Constant rule changes are extremely costly, especially for a highly custom R&D company like Porsche. It's no accident they are very profitable. Porsche is just very frugal with how they choose to spend their money. When Porsche chooses to do something, it's all or nothing. BTW, I only support Porsche in F1 if it's cost effective for them to do so. They are a small company and survival comes first.
_________________
1981 931 (Concours)
1982 931 (Daily Driver)

"Think outside the box"

[Raceboy]

Porsche has controversal memories from F1.
Porsche was extremely succesful in the eighties, with MacLaren MP4/2 (equipped with TAG-Porsche 1.5litre turbo engine) being the MOST succesful F1 car in the history taking 22 Grand Prix wins and taking 2 Constructors and 3 individual titles.
But, it all changed in 90's. Team Footwork didn't win a single point in that year.
My bet is the constantly changing rules, that's why Porsche don't compete right now.
_________________
'83 924 2.6 16v Turbo, 470hp
'67 911 2.4S hotrod
'90 944 S2 Cabriolet
'78 924 Carrera GT replica
'84 928 S, sold
'91 944 S2, sold
'82 924S/931 "Gulf", sold
'84 924, turbocharged, sold.
http://www.facebook.com/vemsporsche

[AGD931]

Porsche should be in F1. That is a very general statement, behind the scenes it is different.

I agree with Paul & Tigger, Porsche is a small company, though very profitable, that needs to remain independent.

F1 is very costly, without the Fiat cheque book, there is no way that Ferrari could afford to stay in competition for so many years.

It would be great to see Porsche in F1, maybe the RS Spyder now in the ALMS, is the start of something bigger in the future...

Arthur
_________________
1981 931 S2
1990 E30 320i Cabrio
1979 Ford Capri Ghia

[sequential]

Hello All,
You are almost right raceboy , the Mclaren Tag ( porsche engine ) was the second most successful F1 car , the most being the 88 Honda Mclaren .
Porsche is not involved in F1 , because of 3 reasons ,

1. No partner
2. Not enough budget to do it right .
3. Really at this stage does not have the technology to compete at the current level.


THe F1 footwork project failed because the engine by F1 or anybody's standard was a DUD ! possible the worst V10 everymade.
It was a total embarresment at all levels and less not forget there indy attempt . Porsche is good at sportscars , the level is lower and easier to work with than the super , stressfull level of F1.

Ha, Ha , F1 , you have to wonder if Porsche can be successful against Audi at leman's , well most of the major car makers are involved in F1 so sportscars is wide open at the moment . Sportscars is what they are geared up to do , i do not believe you will see Porsche motorsports going any where near an F1 race , apart from the Supercup races.
_________________
928 gts prototype
baby blue engine block
steam in 1,2,3,4 sometimes
cold star issues while on stands
112 whp with new 4 valve head and MIS 2

[macBdog]

The rule changes keep the small teams out of the competition. Adaptation costs money. I would love to see a Porsche team in there.
_________________
1979 931 with a 350 chev
1973 911E with EFI

[seanski44]

[chris24]

[Khal]

I suspect all the reasons stated here by others are at least partly corret. However, as for the main reason, well, I guess you'd have to ask Herr Wiedeking

Yeah, I'd love to see a Porsche F1 team. Actually, when I heard they were making the Carrera GT a V10, I though there might be a chance it was because they were thinking about getting back into it (I still suspect that had something to do with F1...)

But I doubt there's much chance in the near future
_________________
'80 924 Turbo

[chris24]

That's exactly what I thought Khal, but alas it seems not. I would love to see a Porsche team.
_________________
1983 - 924 (185K miles) - not mint
1985 - 924 (148K miles) - mint
1990 - 944S2 cab (52K miles)

[Raceboy]

[N-Dub]

AGD931, from Enzo Ferrari's own lips the only reason that Ferrari started making sports cars was to fund his F1 attempts.

Not enough budget? Ya Right! Porsche just made a 1 Billion dollar hybrid capital with Merril Lynch. The largest ever for a non-financial company. Not enough budget, or not enough balls? I really think that Porsche is obsessed with their reputation and the fact that they might lose scares them.
_________________
'79 924 now Totaled! Carrera GT bodywork for sale!
'87 951

[sequential]

raceboy , honda has more Gp victories than Porsche , , but here goes for the turbo era.

1. most victories in 1 season , Honda 15 /16 ( 8 mcclaren tag 12/14(84 )
2. WC"s turbo era Porsche 84/85 (2 ) Honda 3 ( 86,87,88 )
3. the 88 mclaren/ Honda was for all intent and ourposes the most dominant car /team combo every delivered in F1 with the next one being the 92 WLLIAMS ( non turbo era ) as it can be said they won all 16 races if Senna did not trip over a backmarker with a few laps to go and a hugh lead , they would have all 16 races in the bag.

The Tag/ Porsche was not the best , engine or most powerful , but it had the best EFI system with the new and current Bosch and was able to dominate in 84/85/ due to better fuel consumption ( no refueling was allowed) by 86 this engine package was now obsolete being surpassed by both renault and Honda.

While it would be great for Most for Porsche to be in F1, they do not sell enough cars to offset that cost without a partner 170 mill euros would be a good startup first year budget.

Besides that and years of being involved in the sport my opinion is THEY DO NOT CURRENTLY POSSES THE TECHNOLOGY TO COMPETE AT THE CURRENT F1 LEVEL, THEY ARE CARRYING A LOT OF OLD WORLD TRAITS THAT WILL MAKE THEM FAIL AT THE CURRENT F1 LEVEL AND IT IS FOR THIS REASON, WHY THEY FAILED AT THEIR LAST V-10 ATTEMPT IN F1.

It is no accident why Porsche has not played at the top level of motorsport in almost a decade and why they where seriously embarressed at their last factory attempt by mercedes in the FIA gt series . For those interested in the sport go back and read some history on the subject and you will see that porsche's real success has come from teaming up with a good partner , yes that is right most of their top level success's has been with privateer teams not from the factory Team.

THE BEST ENGINE COMPANIES IN THE WORLD ! via motorsports.
top 5

1. Ferrari
2. Renault
3. BMW
4. Honda
5. FORD Cosworth


These companies have won at every level of motorsports and push the technology everyday, Porscher tends to be more conservative in their approach and more evolutionary.

Porsche owns 20 % of VW , when most in the industry believe that VW will not make it out of the decade without going into a partnership ( as most believe will happen to GM and ford ) as vw is slated as one of the companies to go belly up by decade's end. Leaving TOYOTA and you heard this here HYUNDAI as the 2 power house Auto Makers.

So here this you will see HYUNDAI in F1 before Porsche Motorsports that is my prediction.
_________________
928 gts prototype
baby blue engine block
steam in 1,2,3,4 sometimes
cold star issues while on stands
112 whp with new 4 valve head and MIS 2