Prodrive, the British engineering firm known for iconic models such as the DBR9 and Vantage GTE, has expressed renewed interest in returning to prototype competition, noting that the current landscape of endurance racing is “very attractive”.
The company is one of the notable absences in the Hypercar class of the WEC, which has captured unprecedented interest from manufacturers thanks to the LMH and LMDh regulations. Despite its current participation with the LMGT3 team, the last prototype built by Prodrive was the Aston Martin AMR-One from 2011.
David Richards, CEO of Prodrive, indicated that the company is considering a possible collaboration with a manufacturer, aiming to win major races such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Although no concrete plans have been confirmed, the idea of a return to competition seems to generate expectations.
Richards pointed out that what makes the moment attractive is the growing competitiveness of the series and its popularity, a reflection of the success of the regulations established by the ACO. However, he warned that the current participation of manufacturers may not be sustainable, citing examples of brands like Lamborghini and Porsche that have reduced their presence in racing.
Additionally, Richards mentioned that the dynamics of the manufacturers’ market are cyclical: when results do not come, the trend is to reduce resources, which can cause fluctuations in the number of participants in the championship.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
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