Driving the momentum of the Porsche 963’s first total win of the 2025 WEC season in Austin, Texas, the Porsche Penske Motorsport manufacturing unit crew heads into the penultimate spherical brimming with confidence. The squad has significantly fond reminiscences of Japan: in 2024, Kévin Estre, Laurens Vanthoor and André Lotterer triumphed on Fuji’s System 1 circuit, securing their second win of the season and paving the way in which to the world championship crown. “We’re decided to construct on that success and preserve closing the hole within the producers’ standings,” says Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President Porsche Motorsport.
The Porsche Penske Motorsport manufacturing unit crew will as soon as once more subject two Porsche 963 prototypes. The quantity 5 automotive shall be shared by Frenchman Julien Andlauer and his compatriot Mathieu Jaminet, who replaces Danish driver Michael Christensen. Within the sister automotive, French driver Kévin Estre joins forces with Belgium’s Laurens Vanthoor. The Proton Competitors buyer outfit will even sort out the highest Hypercar class with an equivalent hybrid prototype. Within the LMGT3 class, Manthey 1st Phorm goals to take one other step in direction of the title with the Porsche 911 GT3 R, whereas the Iron Dames are focusing on their first podium end of the season in one other 911.
Additional info: 6 Hours of Fuji 2025 | FIA WEC.
This weekend’s 6 Hours of Fuji represents a significant milestone for all rivals: the Japanese spherical marks the 100th race within the FIA World Endurance Championship since its launch in 2012. Porsche and its buyer groups have performed a key function in shaping the sequence thus far, delivering many standout moments alongside the way in which.
18 March 2012: Buyer crew Felbermayr-Proton takes class victory at debut
The brand new FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) kicks off in type on 18 March 2012 with a real basic: the 12 Hours of Sebring in Florida. Porsche’s buyer squad Felbermayr-Proton instantly steal the highlight in the USA. Sharing driving duties within the Porsche 911 RSR (era 997), Christian Ried, Gianluca Roda and Paolo Ruberti clinch victory within the GTE-Am class. “We had received the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup the earlier yr, so stepping as much as the World Championship was the logical transfer. To take a category win within the very first race was merely sensational,” recollects crew proprietor Ried, who with nearly 90 begins ranks among the many WEC’s report members.
6 Could 2012: Lieb/Lietz win GTE-Professional class in WEC’s first European race
Following a profitable debut in the USA, the brand new World Championship celebrates its European premiere in Could 2012. Within the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, manufacturing unit drivers Marc Lieb and Richard Lietz declare victory within the GTE-Professional class on the wheel of the Porsche 911 RSR. “The WEC has given me so many memorable moments. From the very first season, I achieved my first successes and I’m nonetheless on the grid at the moment. Unbelievable, isn’t it?” smiles Lietz.
23 June 2013: New Porsche manufacturing unit crew celebrates double success at Le Mans
For the 2013 season, Porsche enters a manufacturing unit crew within the WEC for the primary time. Within the fiercely contested GTE-Professional class, two Porsche 911 RSR automobiles compete below the banner “Porsche AG Group Manthey.” Marking the 50th anniversary of the Porsche 911, the crew brings residence a sensational consequence: a one-two end for the manufacturing unit squad on the 24 Hours of Le Mans, alongside a category victory for buyer crew IMSA Efficiency Matmut within the beginner class. These triumphs mark the 99th and 100th class wins for Porsche at Le Mans. Companions alongside Porsche Motorsport within the WEC from the very starting: tyre specialist Michelin and lubricant professional Mobil 1.
20 April 2014: New Porsche 919 Hybrid scores podium on debut
From the 2014 season, the World Endurance Championship introduces a revolutionary high class: the spectacular LMP1 class, providing huge technological freedom. Le Mans record-holder Porsche returns to the battle for total victories with the 919 Hybrid – and in type. On its very first race outing, manufacturing unit drivers Mark Webber, Timo Bernhard and Brendon Hartley safe a podium end within the 6 Hours of Silverstone, heralding the start of an unrivalled success story.
30 November 2014: First win for the Porsche 919 Hybrid
After 5 podiums within the opening seven races, the breakthrough comes on the FIA WEC season finale in São Paulo: Neel Jani, Marc Lieb and Romain Dumas safe the primary victory for the Porsche 919 Hybrid. “What an unbelievable day for the crew,” states Lieb on the end and Jani provides: “Our subsequent aim is the world championship crown and a win at Le Mans – we hope that’s simply across the nook.”
14 June 2015: Porsche 919 Hybrid triumphs on the 24 Hours of Le Mans
After a formative first season, the completely reworked Porsche 919 Hybrid dominates the 2015 FIA WEC. The manufacturing unit crew celebrates six victories in eight races, together with the 17th total triumph for Porsche on the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Nick Tandy, Earl Bamber and System 1 driver Nico Hülkenberg win the French basic forward of their crew mates Bernhard/Webber/Hartley, who would go on to safe the world championship later that yr. From this level, the 919 Hybrid defines the LMP1 period within the WEC.
19 June 2016: Dramatic end palms Porsche Le Mans victory
“You don’t win Le Mans, Le Mans enables you to win” – this motorsport adage isn’t extra evident than on 19th June 2016. After a fiercely contested race, the Porsche LMP crew appears destined for second place, just for the main Toyota to falter on the ultimate lap. “Surreal,” recollects Marc Lieb, describing the trail to the 18th total win for Porsche at Le Mans. Lieb shares the 919 Hybrid cockpit with Jani and Dumas. By season’s finish, the trio would go on to safe the world championship title, with Porsche efficiently defending the producers’ and groups’ titles.
18 June 2017: Third straight Le Mans win for the Porsche 919 Hybrid
Porsche celebrates its 19th total victory at Le Mans: after a nail-biting comeback, Timo Bernhard, Earl Bamber and Brendon Hartley clinch the third consecutive Le Mans triumph for the Porsche 919 Hybrid, securing a everlasting place for the monumental trophy within the Porsche Museum. The trio goes on to win the world championship, with Porsche additionally clinching the producer and crew titles. “The LMP1 period was unbelievable,” displays Neel Jani. “Except for the wins, what impressed me most was the technological progress. In 2012 at Le Mans, we might cowl simply 9 laps on a tank. 5 years later, we had been reaching as much as 15 laps and 20 seconds sooner per lap. The WEC provides a stage for outstanding growth. I hope this continues.”
17 June 2018: “Pink Pig” Porsche 911 RSR shines at Le Mans
After wrapping up the LMP1 programme with the 919 Hybrid, Porsche shifts its focus again to GT racing from the 2018/19 season. To mark the model’s 70th anniversary, the Stuttgart producer turns heads with a daring and vibrant assertion at Le Mans: the 2 911 RSR automobiles line up on the grid sporting the historic “Pink Pig” and “Rothmans” liveries. The result’s spectacular: the “Rennsau” claims victory forward of its sister automotive. “At present is the very best day of my life. We’ve received the hardest and most stunning race on the planet,” exclaims manufacturing unit driver Kévin Estre. “The synergy inside the entire crew was merely good,” provides crew mate Laurens Vanthoor.
16 June 2019: Two Le Mans races, two class wins for the 911 RSR
For the 2018/2019 season, the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) adopted a brand new calendar idea: the nine-race season begins with the 24-hour marathon at Le Mans and concludes twelve months later with a second working of the basic. Constructing on the Pink Pig’s 2018 victory, one other hanging livery triumphs in June 2019: the Mission 1 buyer crew’s Artwork Automobile, helmed by manufacturing unit driver Jörg Bergmeister, scores the GTE-Am class win.
14 November 2020: Debut season of the brand new 911 RSR ends with double win
Following Le Mans class wins and championship titles the earlier yr, the brand new Porsche 911 RSR (2019) makes its FIA WEC debut within the 2019/2020 season. Powered by a high-revving 4.2-litre boxer engine, the 911 rapidly turns into a fan favorite because of its spinetingling sound. Whereas sporting success takes a little bit longer to reach, on the season finale in Bahrain, the manufacturing unit crew notches up a GTE-Professional one-two consequence. Within the GTE-Am class, the place the predecessor mannequin of the RSR remains to be competing, the shopper crew Mission 1 takes the win. In the long run, 5 911 RSR from the earlier era end within the high seven.
12 June 2022: 911 RSR indicators off with a win on the 24 Hours of Le Mans
With the brand new Porsche 963 on the horizon, the vastly profitable 911 RSR bids a last farewell at Le Mans. The manufacturing unit crew’s 911 as soon as once more shines on the legendary French circuit. After the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, Richard Lietz, Gianmaria Bruni and Frédéric Makowiecki as soon as once more benefit from the high step of the GTE-Professional podium, this time with out masks. “A victory within the 911 RSR’s last manufacturing unit outing at Le Mans is an indescribable feeling,” exclaims Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President Porsche Motorsport, after 350 gripping laps in France.
17 March 2023: New Porsche 963 debuts on the world stage
Porsche returns to the battle for total victories within the World Endurance Championship! On the FIA WEC 2023 season opener in Sebring, two Porsche 963 automobiles line up on the grid for the primary time. The hybrid prototypes end the 1,000-mile race in fifth and sixth place. The occasion marks the start of a brand new period: an growing variety of producers now settle for the problem within the new high Hypercar class, resulting in a near-unprecedented variety of producers in trendy endurance racing.
4 November 2023: Iron Dames write WEC historical past with Porsche
After a transition yr in GTE-Am, the 911 RSR makes its last look within the 2023 season. At its swan tune, Porsche’s most potent racing boxer delivers a standout efficiency: the Iron Dames crew with Sarah Bovy, Rahel Frey and Michelle Gatting clinch the category win in Bahrain – the primary and solely triumph by an all-female trio within the WEC. “Merely incredible,” beams Swiss driver Frey. “We’ve labored arduous for 5 years, and on the 911 RSR’s last race, it lastly paid off. Now it’s time to rejoice!”
28 March 2024: Triple triumph for Porsche 963 at WEC debut in Qatar
Following a difficult first yr within the FIA WEC and preliminary successes within the North American IMSA sequence, a breakthrough is available in March 2024. On the 10-hour WEC season opener in Qatar, three Porsche 963 automobiles cross the end line on the head of the pack. Kévin Estre, Laurens Vanthoor and André Lotterer are first throughout the road, with the sister Porsche Penske Motorsport automotive in third, separated by the Hertz Group Jota buyer crew’s equivalent hybrid prototype in second.
12 Could 2024: Buyer Porsche 963 thrill at Spa-Francorchamps
Precisely one yr after the primary customer-run 963 seems on the scene, Hertz Group Jota’s hybrid prototype claims victory within the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. The chaotic race, interrupted by a prolonged purple flag, additionally shines a highlight on the Porsche 963 of Proton Competitors. Placing in a shocking drive, former Porsche Junior Julien Andlauer catapults the shopper automotive to the entrance at occasions, cementing his path to a manufacturing unit contract from 2025.
13 June 2024: Estre vegetation Porsche 963 on pole at Le Mans
Forward of the WEC’s 2024 spotlight, Porsche prepares meticulously for Le Mans, decided to carry residence the 20th total victory. In a gripping hyperpole session, manufacturing unit driver Kévin Estre secures pole place within the No. 6 Porsche 963. Nevertheless, the best beginning place fails to ship a win, with the main Porsche Penske Motorsport automotive ending the race in fourth.
16 June 2024: Porsche 911 GT3 R wins LMGT3 class at Le Mans
There’s nonetheless trigger for celebration at Le Mans: within the first race of the brand new LMGT3 class, Manthey EMA’s Porsche 911 GT3 R claims a commanding victory. Manufacturing facility driver Richard Lietz, alongside Yasser Shahin and Morris Schuring, leads the cost to a dominant win. The sister automotive fielded by Manthey PureRxcing pushed by Klaus Bachler, Alex Malykhin and Joel Sturm, goes on to safe the category championship.
3 November 2024: Estre/Lotterer/Vanthoor declare WEC drivers’ title
After victories in Qatar and Fuji and podiums in Imola, Spa and São Paulo, Kévin Estre, André Lotterer and Laurens Vanthoor head into the Bahrain finale main the drivers’ standings. Regardless of setbacks from a number of penalties within the 8-hour race, a tenth-place end is sufficient to clinch the world championship title, with Porsche narrowly lacking the producers’ title by simply two factors.
17 June 2025: Flawless run secures second place for Porsche 963 at Le Mans
On the 2025 Le Mans basic, Porsche Penske Motorsport once more fields three 963 automobiles within the Hypercar class. All three lead for practically 100 laps, with Campbell, Estre and Vanthoor finally ending second. In the meantime, in LMGT3, the Porsche 911 GT3 R as soon as once more claims the highest podium spot: manufacturing unit driver Richard Lietz and his teammates Riccardo Pera and Ryan Hardwick safe victory. “The best day of my racing life,” says the US-born Hardwick. “Profitable at Le Mans with Porsche is just akin to the start of my kids. In each circumstances, phrases can by no means totally seize the expertise or its magnitude.”
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