29-01-2025
Penske Porsche weighing driver options for Le Mans
Porsche is currently mulling over its driver options for the third 963 Hypercar that Porsche Penske Motorsport will field at the Le Mans 24 Hours in June.
Hot off winning the Rolex 24 At Daytona last weekend, PPM intends to enter three cars at Le Mans, and exercise its automatic invitation gained by winning the 2024 IMSA WeatherTech GTP Championship.
In terms of its driver line-up, there is a key decision to make as it pursues a record-extending 20th overall victory in the French classic. After consolidating its Hypercar/GTP personnel down to eight drivers over the winter, one space is left open in the planned third car. Porsche Motorsport Vice President Thomas Laudenbach told reporters at Daytona that he's working on putting together that third car for Le Mans but has not yet decided on who would occupy that assumed vacancy.
'I can throw drivers out there — you won't believe it!' he joked, in response to questions about the subject. 'From the standard drivers, we have eight in the program and you need nine for three cars. We've got so many drivers contracted that we definitely don't have a problem.'
Laudenbach alluded to a short list of drivers that's already been created internally but of course, kept his cards close to his chest.
'I'm not confirming any names but really, we don't have a problem with drivers,' he said. 'We've got Formula E drivers — some of them already did endurance racing. We've got so many other skilled GT drivers. So I think we have enough choices that if it happens, we will have a third competitive car.'
'We always look at where we can improve, but it's not, let's say, a special thing to the third car. I mean, we will look at everything that we can improve, especially for Le Mans. Because Le Mans is important, not necessarily only for the third car.
'Of course, it is easier if you have a two-car team and you do the whole season the same. Obviously, processes are running; you know how to work with it and that's a normal thing. So if you add a third car, yes it adds an additional challenge, no question.'
This presumptive driver would almost certainly team up with reigning IMSA GTP champion Felipe Nasr and Nick Tandy, alongside the two full-time FIA WEC entries (Julien Andlauer/Michael Christensen/Mathieu Jaminet in the No. 5, Matt Campbell/Kevin Estre/Laurens Vanthoor in the No. 6).
One name that has been floated around for a Le Mans cameo ever since he first tested the Porsche 963 last March is four-time Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel. Such a move would echo Porsche's hirings of Mark Webber straight out of F1 in 2014 and then building a program around active F1 driver Nico Hülkenberg in 2015.
Beyond Le Mans, Laudenbach reiterated the Porsche remains open-minded about the prospect of drivers from Team Penske's other racing programs continuing to get opportunities to race the 963 in select events, a la Josef Newgarden who won the Rolex 24 last year in a cameo with Porsche.
'Where we are still free to do it, I would say yes. If you do it is always a different decision. But generally speaking, no, it is not ruled out,' he said.
Jonathan Diuguid, Porsche Penske Motorsport's managing director, noted that the chosen third driver selected for the third car at Le Mans could potentially also join the WEC effort at Spa-Francorchamps in May. That race clashes with the IMSA round at Laguna Seca, meaning Jaminet and Campbell will miss out due to their GTP commitments.
'It's something we've discussed, but we haven't made a decision yet because we don't have to,' said Diuguid. 'In the next couple of months we will make firm decisions because we have to do simulator prep.'
Diuguid did confirm that Campbell will join the No. 6 Porsche 963 for both the Qatar 1812 km and the race at Imola, with Jaminet set to share the No. 5 with full-season pair Andlauer and Christensen.
'We've got some opportunities to test there (Imola) too,' Diuguid added. 'Mathieu, who didn't get to run at Imola last year, is going to have an opportunity to test at the track beforehand.
'It's not just understanding the car, which he understands very well. It's the engineering crews, it's the Virtual Safety Car procedures and all the things as well. It's just a really good opportunity. The more time that PPM drivers drive 963s, the better it is for everybody.'
Later in the season, Porsche is set to use three drivers in both Hypercars in Bahrain, and it may also utilize three drivers in the WEC at other select races due to the challenges that hotter climates present for drivers.
'I think COTA or anything during the summertime is something we're looking at,' said Diuguid. 'The 963 has an air conditioning system which helps — it's not like going around in your road car but in general the guys have a high fitness level. We will play it by ear.'
Story originally appeared on Racer
