The Stuttgart-based producer’s manufacturing facility workforce will enter two Porsche 963 prototypes within the ten-hour “Petit Le Mans”. Within the drivers’ standings, general leaders Matt Campbell (Australia) and Mathieu Jaminet (France) begin because the favourites. Their teammates Felipe Nasr (Brazil) and Nick Tandy (UK), at present second within the desk, additionally stay in rivalry for the title.
The preview
Heading into the season finale at Highway Atlanta, the combat for the producers’ crown is on a knife-edge. Porsche tops the standings with 4 victories however holds solely a seven-point benefit over Acura, Honda’s American efficiency model. With 350 factors awarded for a race win and 35 for pole place, each session may show decisive.
“We are going to give completely every little thing at Highway Atlanta to defend all titles,” states Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President Porsche Motorsport. “After our extraordinary begin with 4 wins in a row, the circumstances prevented additional victories. The six-hour race at Indianapolis didn’t go as deliberate. We all know now we have the potential – now it’s about executing flawlessly. The workforce is totally centered on the ‘Petit Le Mans’. I’m assured we are able to emerge from the massive finale as winners.”
“We have to ship most efficiency in all areas to realize our dream of title defence,” explains Urs Kuratle, Director Manufacturing unit Motorsport LMDh. “The workforce, the drivers, and above all of the Porsche 963 convey every little thing wanted for one more triumph. For the reason that begin of the LMDh laws in 2023, the 963 has been probably the most profitable automotive by far – eleven wins in IMSA, greater than any rival. At Highway Atlanta, we’re concentrating on win quantity twelve and, similar to final 12 months, all of the championship titles.”
“Petit LeMans is the ultimate spherical of the 2025 IMSA season and is among the most troublesome. The tight confines of the Highway Atlanta circuit and the excessive automotive depend is a recipe for continuous motion,” states Jonathan Diuguid, Managing Director Porsche Penske Motorsport. “Porsche Penske Motorsport is getting into the race main all championships; nevertheless, we’re not taking something without any consideration. Each of our vehicles have had a robust 8 earlier races however it would all be determined in Atlanta and we should keep centered and hopefully rewarded when the checkered flag falls.”
For the endurance traditional on the 4.088-kilometer Highway Atlanta circuit close to Braselton, Porsche Penske Motorsport will as soon as once more discipline three drivers per automotive. Jaminet and Campbell will share the #6 Porsche 963 with Frenchman Julien Andlauer, whereas the #7 sister automotive will likely be pushed by Nasr, Tandy, and Belgian Laurens Vanthoor. JDC-Miller MotorSports enters its 485 kW (659 PS) sturdy #85 Porsche 963 with Tijmen van der Helm (Netherlands), Max Esterson (USA), and Neel Jani (Switzerland). Proton Competitors won’t contest the finale.
Championship situations: thrilling title combat goes all the way down to the wire
Within the drivers’ championship, three duos nonetheless have a mathematical shot: Campbell/Jaminet lead with 2,582 factors forward of Nasr/Tandy on 2,451. BMW’s Dries Vanthoor (Belgium) and Philipp Eng (Austria) are third, 145 factors adrift. The equation is straightforward: a seventh-place end is sufficient for Campbell/Jaminet to safe the drivers’ crown. The identical state of affairs applies to the groups’ championship.
The producers’ title combat is even tighter: with only a seven-point lead, not less than one Porsche 963 should end forward of the best-placed Acura to safe the title. Within the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup – the particular classification for the long-distance races at Daytona, Sebring, Watkins Glen, Indianapolis, and Highway Atlanta – Porsche additionally leads throughout the board. In 2024, Porsche swept all titles on this sub-championship as properly.
GT courses: Wright Motorsports fights for IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup
After ending second at Indianapolis, Wright Motorsports nonetheless has a shot on the Endurance Cup. The Ohio-based buyer workforce fields a Porsche 911 GT3 R within the GTD class, pushed by Individuals Adam Adelson and Elliott Skeer alongside Australia’s Tom Sargent within the #120 entry.
In GTD Professional, AO Racing is chasing a 3rd win of the season with its fan-favorite “Rexy” Porsche 911 GT3 R. The #77 will likely be shared by Laurin Heinrich (Germany), Klaus Bachler (Austria), and Porsche manufacturing facility driver Michael Christensen (Denmark) – all three former Porsche Juniors.
The race
The “Petit Le Mans”, a part of the IMSA calendar since 1998, is one in every of North America’s most prestigious endurance races. The twenty eighth working will once more be held at Michelin Raceway Highway Atlanta, about 80 km northeast of Atlanta, house of Porsche Vehicles North America. The ten-hour race on the undulating 4.088 km natural-terrain circuit, with its twelve corners together with the well-known quick downhill “Esses” is very standard amongst each followers and drivers. Autumn climate in Georgia can convey blazing sunshine, heavy rain, and even thunderstorms.
Porsche’s biggest Highway Atlanta triumph got here in 2015 in torrential rain, when Nick Tandy, Patrick Pilet (France), and Richard Lietz (Austria) claimed general victory with the Porsche 911 RSR forward of all faster prototype vehicles – the model’s solely outright win at Highway Atlanta thus far. Throughout the “Petit Le Mans”, Porsche has additionally celebrated 24 class victories.
Dwell protection
Followers outdoors the USA and Canada can watch the complete race freed from cost on imsa.television. Dwell timing is obtainable at scoring.imsa.com. The inexperienced flag for the 2025 IMSA season finale drops on Saturday, October 11, at 12:10 p.m. native time (6:10 p.m. CEST).
Driver quotes
Matt Campbell (Porsche 963 #6): “That is it! ‘Petit Le Mans’ is the right stage for a giant season finale. For me, it’s the very best occasion of the 12 months. Hopefully we are able to have fun a profitable finish to the season. Along with our teammates within the #7, we’re combating for the championship – it’s going to be thrilling!”
Felipe Nasr (Porsche 963 #7): “Right here we’re, getting into the ultimate race of the season. Highway Atlanta at all times delivers a thriller, and I benefit from the distinctive challenges this race brings. I’m desperate to combat for the producers’ championship with Porsche, that’s our primary objective. I’m excited to workforce up with Nick Tandy and Laurens Vanthoor once more, and hopefully we decide up proper the place we left off in Sebring!”
Neel Jani (Porsche 963 #85): “It’s a disgrace Proton Competitors can’t be there, so I’m actually happy to hitch JDC-Miller MotorSports at Highway Atlanta. We could also be outsiders, however something can occur at ‘Petit Le Mans’. The workforce examined right here lately, so the automotive ought to be well-prepared. I do know the circuit very properly and have already gained right here twice. In 2023, Proton and I even managed a podium with the Porsche 963. We’ve obtained a shot!”
Laurin Heinrich (Porsche 911 GT3 R #77): “The temper is a bit subdued since we misplaced our likelihood to defend the title at Indianapolis. However I’m fired up for Highway Atlanta: I’ve obtained unfinished enterprise there. In 2024, we secured the championship however suffered a troublesome race on Saturday after main early. Now I need to win the ‘Petit Le Mans’ – it’s excessive on my want listing and an enormous motivation. We’ll give every little thing to have fun one other win with ‘Rexy’.”
Porsche entries at Highway Atlanta
GTP class (Porsche 963):
Porsche Penske Motorsport #6: Matt Campbell (AUS), Mathieu Jaminet (FRA), Julien Andlauer (FRA)
Porsche Penske Motorsport #7: Felipe Nasr (BRA), Nick Tandy (GBR), Laurens Vanthoor (BEL)
JDC-Miller MotorSports #85: Tijmen van der Helm (NLD), Max Esterson (USA), Neel Jani (CHE)
GTD Professional class:
AO Racing #77: Klaus Bachler (AUT), Laurin Heinrich (DEU), Michael Christensen (DNK)
GTD class:
Wright Motorsports #120: Adam Adelson (USA), Elliott Skeer (USA), Tom Sargent (AUS)
Schedule (native time = CEST – 6 hours)
Thursday, 9 October
10:40 – 12:10 hrs: Free Observe 1
15:15 – 16:45 hrs: Free Observe 2
19:30 – 21:00 hrs: Free Observe 3
Friday, 10 October
15:20 – 15:35 hrs: Qualifying GTD
15:40 – 15:55 hrs: Qualifying GTD Professional
16:20 – 16:35 hrs: Qualifying GTP
Saturday, 11 October
12:10 – 22:10 hrs: Race (10 hours)
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