Porsche targets podium finish at Lone Star Le Mans

WECHyperCar

Sep 4

Porsche is determined to keep the battle for the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) manufacturers’ crown alive. The Stuttgart sports car manufacturer heads into the upcoming race in Austin, Texas, on 7 September with strong prospects for top results. Porsche Penske Motorsport will field two Porsche 963 hybrid prototypes. Customer outfit Proton Competition adds another Weissach-built prototype to the grid.

📷 © Luc Warnotte at 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. Three Porsche 963 ahead of both Toyota.

World Manufacturers’ Championship

Porsche is currently third in the FIA World Endurance Manufacturer’s Championship (WEC) with 111 points with only a 9 points gap with Cadillac (second) ahead of the Circuit of The Americas (CoTA) race. The two Porsche 963 hybrid prototypes have set their sights on a podium to keep the battle for manufacturers’ crown alive.

“We have the very best memories of Austin: between 2015 and 2017 we secured three wins there with the Porsche 919 Hybrid,” says Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President Porsche Motorsport. “We now need to achieve success in Texas with the Porsche 963 as well. We haven’t been as competitive as we had hoped this season, but going into Le Mans we turned things around and, thanks to a podium in São Paulo, we have kept our championship hopes alive. The team is fully prepared and eager for what promises to be a tight contest at the Circuit of The Americas.”

📷 © Luc Warnotte at 24 Hours of Le Mans. Both Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963 pitting late morning.

“We’re expecting a hot race – in every sense,” adds Urs Kuratle, Director Factory Motorsport LMDh, in the lead-up to round six of the season. “In early September, temperatures in Austin often soar well above 30°C. The asphalt heats up dramatically and puts all teams under major pressure in terms of tyre management. That’s why we’ve opted again to rotate three drivers per car. I’m convinced we’re well-prepared for these conditions.”

Three Porsche 963. — 📷 © Luc Warnotte at 6 Hours of Spa-Francarchamps. Three Porsche 963 at Tamburello.

“The goal at São Paulo was to take maximum points and close the gap on the Manufacturers World Championship leaders. The reality is that both cars had a clean and fast race, finishing third and fourth. We couldn’t have asked for more from the team,” explains Jonathan Diuguid, Managing Director Porsche Penske Motorsport. “We go into Austin with the same goal, and we’re feeling confident in our performance and operation that we can edge even closer.”

World Drivers’ Championship

The #6 Porsche 963 is crewed by reigning World Endurance Champions Kévin Estre and Laurens Vanthoor. They are currently fifth with 54 points, 14 points behind Cadillac #12 drivers (third). For the Austin race, they are joined by Australia’s Matt Campbell, a former Porsche Junior.

📷 © Luc Warnotte at 24 Hours of Le Mans. Kévin Estre with #6 Porsche 963

Laurens Vanthoor (Porsche 963 #6): “Travelling to Austin is always a highlight. The city has such a unique flair and the weather is usually great. I also really enjoy the track. Last year, we weren’t particularly strong in Texas, but after a thorough analysis, we’ve understood the reasons why. Hopefully, we can put those lessons into practice this weekend, improve our performance and score some big points.”

At the wheel of the #5 car, three former Porsche Juniors share duties: France’s Julien Andlauer and Mathieu Jaminet alongside Denmark’s Michael Christensen. Andlauer and Christensen count only 33 points so far.

📷 © Luc Warnotte at 24 Hours of Le Mans. Adrien Andlauer with #5 Porsche 963

Julien Andlauer (Porsche 963 #5): “Texas is one of the coolest states in the US – I’m really excited to finally be heading back there. Austin has a fantastic atmosphere, a mix of beauty and a little bit of craziness. The track presents big challenges, especially the summer heat, which really takes a toll on us. It’s great to have Mathieu Jaminet back on board so we can share the driving across three of us.”

FIA World Cup for Hypercar Teams

Proton Competition’s #99 Porsche 963 is currently 64 points behind the #83 AF Corse Ferrari in the FIA World Cup for Hypercar Teams. The #99 hybrid prototype will be shared by Neel Jani, Nico Pino and Nico Varrone.

Neel Jani (Porsche 963 #99): “A top-ten finish and our first championship point in Brazil showed that we’re moving in the right direction. We want to keep building on that momentum. I’m very curious to see how the Porsche 963 will handle around Austin. Our goal is a single-digit result in the Hypercar class. It’s often hot in Texas, but we’ve also seen sudden heavy showers there – so I expect an eventful and exciting race.” Source: Porsche

The programme.

Friday, 5 September: two 90-minute free practice sessions at 11.30 a. m. and 4.00 p. m.;

Saturday, 6 September: after the third free practice session (11.00 a. m.-12.00 a. m.), qualifying for the Hypercar class takes place at 3.40 p. m., followed by the Hyperpole at 4.00 p. m.

Sunday, 7 September: The 6 Hours of COTA, as mentioned, starts at 1.00 p. m. (local times).