By alley - Jul 16, 2017, 3:36 PM ET

Porsche exploring options beyond WEC

Porsche is set to make important decisions about its future motorsport programs at a board meeting on July 28. Part of that will be evaluating whether the LMP1 Hybrid program should continue after the end of the current season.

Porsche's recent first-time appearance at a Formula 1 technical group, coupled with increased media speculation in Germany suggesting that the company is actively considering an entry into Formula E, has poured doubt over the company's commitment to its current plan to continue in the LMP1 Hybrid class of the FIA World Endurance Championship until the end of the 2018 season.

Porsche confirmed that level of commitment back in 2015. But since then its three wins at the Le Mans 24 Hours (2015-2017) and a double win in the FIA World Endurance Championship to this point, plus the withdrawal of Audi Sport from the WEC in the wake of the VAG "Dieselgate" scandal, have led to questions about the relative value of the program in the short term against other available motorsports options.

The announcement of the 2020 regulations are also a factor in the decision. Whether Porsche feels it would benefit on an R&D level from the introduction of incoming plug-in hybrid technology and the development of the current breed of hybrid technology being curbed, and if the budget can be curtailed in the process, remain to be seen.

Porsche stresses that the upcoming 2020 regulations, and the potential for other manufacturers to join in (mainly Peugeot), could be enough to justify continuing the program in future years.

"There's some good elements like the fast-charging electric motors, active aerodynamics. We keep the high-voltage technology, the two systems which still helps all of us to develop hybrid technology – which is relevant for our Mission E concept car that gets launched in 2019. We have great examples from direct tech transfer from the 919 Hybrid into that project.

"The leadership is clear from the ACO and FIA. They have the vision in which way it will go, and I think it's good."

If this is the case though, then the options are as follows: continue to the end of the current commitment, until the next regulation cycle in 2020, or change direction at the end of this current season.

While even the closest sources to the story confirm that no decision has been made on the future at this point, the very fact that the discussion is being had at a senior level is pointing to a negative outcome for many seasoned industry observers.

For Porsche's competition, the presumption in some areas that any decision from Porsche to terminate its program would necessarily see Toyota following suit, seems far less firmly based.

Toyota's LMP1 Hybrid program is far more closely linked with the development of future road car R&D than Porsche's technology and marketing-based model. The team has already made heavy investments in the race technology required to compete both this season and into 2018 and, not least, the sporting imperative for the program is clear – to win at Le Mans.