Porsche and #6 drivers in contention for crowns

WECHyperCar

Nov 4

Porsche remains in contention at the top of the manufacturers’ standings, while Kévin Estre and Laurens Vanthoor with #6 Porsche 963 keep their championship hopes alive ahead of the eight-hour Bahrain race.

World Manufacturers’ Championship standing

Porsche goes into the big showdown in Bahrain ranking second in the manufacturers’ standings – 39 points behind the leaders. For the eight-hour race in Sakhir, 66 points are still up for grabs with a double (38 points for victory and 27 for P2) and an additional point for pole position.

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Lone Star Le Mans. Winning #6 Porsche 963

“It’d be fantastic to wrap up our era in the FIA WEC with more title wins,” says Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President Porsche Motorsport. “We’re tackling the big finale in Bahrain as the underdogs, but we’ll do everything we can to maximise our chances. The Porsche 963 will bid farewell to the championship as the most successful LMDh car since the regulations were introduced. But that’s not enough for us: we want to win the eight-hour race and, ideally, return to Weissach with world championship trophies. The team, the drivers, and the entire development crew truly deserve such a triumph.”

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Fuji Speedway (left) and 24 Hours of Le Mans (right): P2 for #6 Porsche 963

World Drivers’ Championship standing

In the drivers’ championship, the victory for Campbell, Estre, and Vanthoor in the six-hour race at Austin was followed by a podium finish in Japan three weeks later. It brings Estre and Vanthoor back in contention for the drivers’ title as they sit third, 21 points off the frontrunners. For the eight-hour race in Sakhir, 39 points are still on the table in the drivers’ standings: 38 points for a win and an additional point for pole position.

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Lone Star Le Mans. Winning #6 Porsche 963

Kévin Estre (Porsche 963 #6): “We’re heading into the final race of the season, and it’s also the last for Porsche Penske Motorsport in the WEC programme. There’s no time for nostalgia: we’re still fighting for both the manufacturers’ and drivers’ championships. Our results in the second half of the season have kept us in contention for the world titles in Bahrain. In recent races, the team has consistently maximised the potential of our package. We aim to continue this in the finale – to win titles and leave the WEC programme on a high.”

New lineup for #5 Porsche 963

While IMSA GTP champion Mathieu Jaminet will leave Porsche at the end of 2025, the Frenchmen will make his final race start as a Porsche works driver at next weekend’s FIA WEC finale at Bahrain, piloting the #5 Porsche Penske 963 Hypercar. Julien Andlauer will also share the Porsche 963 with a new teammate for the 8 hours race as former Porsche Junior Laurin Heinrich will make his Hypercar race debut in Bahrain.

Mathieu Jaminet (Porsche 963 #5): “After so many unforgettable years together, I’ve chosen to start a new chapter at the end of this WEC season, it’s been one of the hardest decisions of my life, but I felt it was the right time to move on. I’ll never forget what this brand did for me 10 years ago: taking a kid with no backing, no money, just a dream and giving me a chance. To everyone who has been a part of this journey teammates, engineers, mechanics and friends – thank you. We achieved things I once only dreamed of.”

Porsche #5 — 📷 © Luc Warnotte at Bahrain 2024. Last year, the Porsche 963 #5 was driven by M. Campbell / M. Christensen / F. Makowieck. For this last race of the season, full time #5 Porsche driver Julien Andlauer will be joined by **Mathieu Jaminet** and **Laurin Heinrich.**

Laurin Heinrich (Porsche 963 #5): “Three years ago I was a Porsche Junior, and now I’m contesting a WEC race for Porsche Penske Motorsport in the 963 – it’s incredible and makes me very proud. Almost everything will be new for me: the track, the FIA WEC, the team, and the car. The crew and I have prepared as thoroughly as possible for the challenges ahead. I hope I can support Porsche and my teammates in the fight for the titles.”

Porsche eyes for a third trophy in WEC this season

In the LMGT3 category, customer team Manthey 1st Phorm heads into the Bahrain International Circuit finale as the leader of the FIA Endurance Trophy. The squad from Germany’s Eifel region tackles the last WEC race of the year holding an 11-point advantage.

Richard Lietz (Porsche 911 GT3 R #92): “The season finale in Bahrain promises to be thrilling, with everything on the line for us. Of course, our aim is to win the championship. The long eight-hour race will take us from the scorching afternoon into the cooler evening, making it crucial to find the optimal setup as track temperatures drop. I’m hoping for a clean, incident-free race and a strong result for our team.” Source: Porsche

The programme.

Thursday, 6 November: two 90-minute free practice sessions, starting at 12.15 p.m. and 5 p.m.;

Friday, 7 November, free practice 3 (12 p.m.–1 p.m.) will be followed by qualifying (from 4.40 p.m.) and Hyperpole (from 5 p.m.) for the Hypercar class.

Saturday, 8 November, the race will start at 2 p.m. and finish at 10 p.m. (local times).

The following day, Sunday, 9 November, the Rookie Test will take place in Sakhir.