Porsche is looking to introduce an updated crankshaft for its V8 twin-turbo engine in the Porsche 963 LMDh car later this year. Urs Kuratle, the Porsche LMDh factory director, confirmed this during a recent media call. Although the updated crankshaft will not be used in the upcoming WeatherTech Championship season opener at Daytona, discussions are underway with IMSA and the ACO to potentially introduce it for the 2024 season.

According to Kuratle, the implementation of a new crankshaft requires significant lead time, including the manufacturing of the first pieces and thorough endurance testing. As a result, the exact timing of its deployment remains uncertain. Kuratle stressed that the updated crankshaft will not be utilized in any race before Le Mans, and the decision to introduce it before or during the iconic endurance race is still under consideration.

Porsche, like other LMDh and LMH manufacturers, is permitted up to five 'EVO Jokers' during the five-year homologation period. However, the specific number of EVO Jokers utilized by Porsche for the updated 963 remains undisclosed. When asked about other re-homologations, Kuratle mentioned that the changes mainly involve minor details, such as sensor adjustments and cable layouts. These modifications are predominantly internal and do not affect the car's visual appearance or aerodynamics.

The undisclosed updates have already undergone testing on the two Porsche Penske Motorsport-entered GTP cars during the IMSA-sanctioned test held at Daytona International Speedway last month, in compliance with regulations. Kuratle emphasized that the discussions with IMSA and the ACO regarding the updates were fair, open, and resulted in mutual understanding.

With the need to update all Porsche 963s to ensure they run in the same configuration, the German manufacturer faces additional challenges due to the larger number of cars in competition. Porsche will have at least nine 963s actively racing this year between their factory entries, customer cars, and participation in both the WeatherTech Championship and WEC. Kuratle acknowledged that introducing new components across the entire fleet brings about supply chain issues and logistical complexities, including the requirement for some customers to send their engines back to Weissach for installation.

Despite these challenges, Porsche remains committed to providing customers with high-performance cars. However, the company recognizes the potential financial burden re-homologation may impose on customers and is actively discussing potential solutions internally.

While the introduction of the updated crankshaft is not imminent, Porsche enthusiasts anticipate the enhancements it will bring to the already impressive performance of the Porsche 963 LMDh car.