Porsche Argues for Sportscar Convergence

Porsche is arguing for sportscar convergence at the top level while its own program faces financial pressure. This is just one of the topics covered in this week’s Business of Motorsport Roundup. I also have news on whether Liberty Media intends to sell F1, two blockbuster motorsport sponsorship deals and much more!

Motorsport Industry News

Formula 1

Formula 1 fans

Liberty Media won’t rule out selling Formula 1, with company chairman John Malone admitting that it would sell the championship should a buyer offer up the right price. “It’s a public company,” he said. “If somebody gets carried away and they want to buy it and they’re willing to pay more for it than the board thinks that they can deliver to the shareholders, then we would sell it.”

Formula 1’s U.S. audience grew 17% in 2025, signaling one of the sport’s most lucrative markets. This surge highlights billion-dollar sponsorship and media opportunities, reshaping the growth strategy of motorsports in America.

Speaking of which, reports are that F1 is close to signing a media deal while ESPN is reporting record viewership in the last year of its media contract with the series. Liberty Media has indicated that the series is looking beyond broadcasters as media partners.

Formula 1 has “no more room” to welcome a 12th team in the paddock, CEO Stefano Domenicali has warned. “We have to be cautious,” the Italian warned. “We’ll only evaluate a bid of great significance because I think we’re already at a point with no more room – logistically we’re at the limit.”

Colton Herta’s move from IndyCar star to Cadillac F1 test driver is a huge gamble. But if successful, huge gambles tend to pay out big, both for Herta and for F1’s American conquest as a whole. Filip Cleeren of Autosport looks at what’s at stake.

Formula 1’s Monaco Grand Prix will remain on the calendar until 2035 after signing a fresh four-year contract extension with commercial rightsholder FOM. And while Monaco is not going anywhere, Imola is hoping to get back on the schedule. It’s understood discussions between officials in Italy and Formula One Management are ongoing with a view to the venue becoming a rotating event according to Planet F1.

General Motorsport Industry News

Porsche Argues for Sportscar Convergence

Turning his back on another stint in F1, Guenther Steiner has invested in MotoGP Tech3 as the next step in his varied motorsport career. “I always loved MotoGP [but] I never had time to enjoy it because I was working. Once I got through Austin last year, I came up with the idea [and thought] this would be an interesting project.”

NASCAR’s 2025 lawsuit has exposed deep rifts over revenue sharing, with team charters now valued at $40M each. As disputes escalate, the future of team finances and investor confidence hangs in the balance.

“NASCAR’s ongoing antitrust lawsuit with 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports has exposed a 62% claimed increase in team payments for 2025, yet teams argue this falls short of fair revenue sharing. This conflict highlights deep financial divides, with charters now valued over $40 million each, signaling high stakes for motorsports investors. As stakeholders assess risks, data analytics reveal opportunities to navigate these uncertainties.”

While NASCAR’s TV viewership slumps to historic lows in 2025, smaller series like IMSA, SCCA, and SRO are breaking attendance records. By focusing on fan experience and targeted innovations, these series are defying industry downturns.

Porsche Argues for Sportscar Convergence

Porsche continues to lobby for a single top level sportscar class instead of the current GTP/Hypercar split but complications remain. “This is absolutely possible. I think there is a solution for that. I fully accept a manufacturer saying ‘this is important to me’, everything I have heard so far can be solved. I am not saying it is easy, but I am pretty sure this is possible.”

Ironically, while Porsche argues for convergence, their own sportscar program is under pressure. While the manufacturer insists that no decision has yet been made, speculation is that their WEC program may be facing the chopping block. “I am not commenting on that, because the decision is not made — it is too early. We will [make an announcement] when the time is coming.”

In American motorsports, television has always been king. Broadcast deals keep sanctioning bodies alive. They drive sponsorship, pay purses, and keep the lights on. I respect that. It’s the bottom line, and I understand the business. But the digital future of motorsport could result in American motorsports losing the race. Chris Harris explains.

Private equity is accelerating into motorsports, with valuations climbing 15% annually across PE-backed teams. Australia’s Supercars Championship is emerging as a prime target, combining regional dominance with scalable global potential.

Quick Takes on the Business of Motorsport This Week

Porsche Argues for Sportscar Convergence
Porsche Argues for Sportscar Convergence

Highlights from the Sustainable Motorsport Roundup

Goodwood Revival

The Goodwood Revival continues to run on sustainable fuel as the prestigious historic race meeting works to make vintage racing culturally sustainable. I also have details on the sustainability initiatives of Rali Ceredigion, Extreme E’s final lab and more in this week’s Sustainable Motorsport Roundup.

The Numbers

Porsche Argues for Sportscar Convergence

Motorsports viewership last weekend in the U.S. (via Adam Stern):

1) NASCAR Cup (USA Network): 1.880 million viewers
2) Formula 1 (ESPN): 1.2 million
3) INDYCAR (Fox): 1.142 million
4) NHRA (Fox): 1.036 million
5) NASCAR Xfinity (The CW): 733,000
6) NASCAR Trucks (FS1): 262,000
7) ARCA (FS1): 43,000

Motorsport Law Roundup

A look at some of the legal and regulatory issues and analysis in Motorsport this week

Williams

The FIA’s Dutch Grand Prix stewards will reconvene on Friday 12 September (today) for Williams’ right of review of Carlos Sainz’s Zandvoort penalty. Sainz was incensed by taking the blame for the collision and Williams later submitted a right of review to the FIA to revisit the incident, saying it was “important for us to understand how to go racing in future, and we are hopeful of a positive outcome”.

North Carolina’s State Bureau of Investigation is looking into Richmond County commissioners using grant money to pay Rockingham Speedway’s overdue bill to a vendor.

Freshfields and Morgan Lewis are advising on the sale of MSP Sports Capital’s remaining McLaren Racing stake—valued at approximately $1.5 billion—as Gulf investors assume full ownership of the company according to Law.com.

The LawInSport Global Summit 2025 – Understand The Rules Of The Game, will be hosted in London on 6th & 7th October 2025 by A&O Shearman, London. Full details can be found here.

Motorsport Sponsorship, Partnership News and Analysis

The latest motorsport sponsorship deals, partnerships and related analysis that were announced this week

Porsche Argues for Sportscar Convergence
Porsche Argues for Sportscar Convergence

The Business of Running a Race Team

Porsche Argues for Sportscar Convergence

Japan Racing Insider has an exclusive interview with Triple Tree Racing team director Hideki Noda looking at the team’s formations and what the future holds. “I decided to start the team very late last year, in December, and to build up a brand-new team in that timeframe was a big challenge,” said Noda. “I had to speak to many people to join the project and we had to prepare the car, equipment, everything.”

Team & Manufacturer News

A roundup of the latest team news from around the world of motorsport

Porsche Argues for Sportscar Convergence
Porsche Argues for Sportscar Convergence
Porsche Argues for Sportscar Convergence
Porsche Argues for Sportscar Convergence
Mark Boudreau
Author: Mark Boudreau

Mark is the publisher of Motorsport Prospects. As a lawyer, he applies his legal background and research skills to assist race drivers by showcasing the resources they need to make their motorsport careers happen.

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