Porsche is thought to have submitted a tender to become the sole battery supplier of the Formula E championship in 2018.
Motorsport reports that the German carmaker is keen to further the work it has done with the hybrid powertrain of its Le Mans-winning 919 endurance racer. Additionally, by supplying batteries to the entire Formula E field, Porsche would speed up the development of its future road-going electric cars, most notably the Mission E.
The application is being evaluated by a team of independent consultants who are expected to make a formal announcement regarding their decision at October’s Hong Kong ePrix. Other applicants include Williams Advanced Engineering, DS, Red Bull, Mahindra and McLaren.
Leading the charge for Porsche to become involved in Formula E is the firm’s vice president of motorsport, Dr. Frank-Steffen Walliser. Although he has refused to comment on the reports, he did reveal in an interview last year how important it is for Porsche to remain at the pinnacle of motorsport.
“Porsche is one of the leading lights in this field, already pioneering five years ago with the 911 GT3 R Hybrid. In the future, too, it will be crucial to continue recognizing such trends and leading them to successful results through appropriate placement in the right performance class. That requires technical and tactical acumen, in equal measure,” he said.
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