Nonetheless, there was loads of motive to have a good time within the LMGT3 class: buyer outfit Manthey efficiently defended its FIA Endurance Trophy title for the second consecutive 12 months. The drivers’ crown went to Richard Lietz, Riccardo Pera and Ryan Hardwick.
In its fiftieth race, the Porsche 963 went house unrewarded. Following a mediocre qualifying session on Friday, the manufacturing unit crew confronted a difficult eight-hour race on the Formulation 1 circuit in Bahrain. France’s Kévin Estre and Laurens Vanthoor from Belgium, the 2024 drivers’ world champions, shared driving duties with Australian Matt Campbell and completed thirteenth general. The sister automobile, pushed by the Frenchmen Julien Andlauer and Mathieu Jaminet along with German Laurin Heinrich, crossed the road in 14th place. The similar hybrid prototype fielded by buyer squad Proton Competitors took the flag in P17.
‟At this time, we merely didn’t have the tempo to struggle on the entrance,” summarised Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President Porsche Motorsport. ‟However wanting again over the previous three years fills us with pleasure: we have been the primary to win a FIA WEC race with an LMDh automobile; in 2024 we claimed the drivers’ title; and in Le Mans we got here so near general victory with second place. My compliments go to your complete crew for these excellent performances. Our Porsche 963 has additionally set the benchmark for LMDh race vehicles within the FIA WEC. Congratulations as effectively to our GT3 buyer crew Manthey on as soon as once more securing the championship titles within the World Endurance Championship.”
‟I want to sincerely thank your complete crew for these three years within the WEC,” commented Urs Kuratle, Director Manufacturing unit Motorsport LMDh. ‟I particularly wish to thank Penske, Multimatic and all our companions who’ve supported us all through this thrilling and eventful journey. Congratulations to Ferrari on profitable the title and to Toyota on immediately’s race victory.”
‟This was, for the foreseeable future, our ultimate look within the World Endurance Championship,” mentioned Jonathan Diuguid, Managing Director Porsche Penske Motorsport. ‟Sadly, the highest consequence we had hoped for eluded us. Total, nevertheless, it’s been a incredible and profitable interval. I’ve completely loved working with this excellent group of passionate folks.”
Regardless of the result within the 2025 season finale, the manufacturing unit outfit can look again on a extremely profitable time within the championship: with three wins, 15 podiums, three pole positions and two quickest race laps, the Porsche 963 has firmly established itself as essentially the most profitable LMDh automobile for the reason that introduction of the rules in 2023. The ca. 500 kW (680 PS) hybrid prototype will proceed to compete subsequent 12 months within the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the place Porsche claimed all titles for the second consecutive season.
LMGT3 Class: Manthey 1st Phorm clinches title with the 911 GT3 R
Within the LMGT3 class, buyer crew Manthey reaffirmed its class dominance. Driving the Porsche 911 GT3 R below the Manthey 1st Phorm banner, manufacturing unit driver Richard Lietz from Austria, Italy’s Riccardo Pera, and American Ryan Hardwick delivered a flawless race. Ranging from 18th on the grid, the crew steadily labored their manner as much as fourth place. Because of this efficiency, the drivers and crew from the Germany’s Eifel area secured the FIA Endurance Trophy. This marked Manthey’s second championship win in simply the second 12 months of the LMGT3 class. In June, the crew had additionally claimed its second consecutive class victory at Le Mans.
‟This success story within the LMGT3 class is difficult to beat: two class wins at Le Mans and the championship titles in LMGT3 aren’t any small achievement,” emphasised Sebastian Golz, Undertaking Supervisor Porsche 911 GT3 R. ‟The groups at Manthey in Meuspath and at Porsche Motorsport in Weissach might be pleased with the inspiration they’ve constructed and the outcomes they’ve fought for on observe.”
The Iron Dames squad additionally produced a formidable comeback on race day. French driver Célia Martin, Swiss racer Rahel Frey, and Michelle Gatting from Denmark introduced their as much as 416 kW (565 PS) Manthey-run 911 GT3 R house in twelfth place.
Driver feedback after the race
Mathieu Jaminet (Porsche 963 #5): ‟My ultimate two stints within the automobile have been an actual pleasure. Sadly, we lacked the required tempo in the course of the race to realize extra. The complete crew deserved higher for our farewell, and personally, I’d hoped for a high lead to my final outing with the Porsche 963.”
Laurens Vanthoor (Porsche 963 #6): ‟We did every little thing we might and opted for a daring technique. Sadly, it didn’t repay. As a substitute of preventing for the world championship, we misplaced second place within the championship to Toyota. We’d anticipated Porsche Penske Motorsport’s farewell WEC race to unfold in a different way.”
Riccardo Pera (Porsche 911 GT3 R #92): ‟Unbelievable – a dream has come true! My heartfelt thanks go to the Manthey crew and my fellow drivers. I can’t even put into phrases or absolutely comprehend such a triumph in a world championship. But it surely’s the best day of my profession to this point, and it feels superb!”
Michelle Gatting (Porsche 911 GT3 R #85): ‟At this time’s race displays your complete season – as soon as once more, every little thing went towards us. All year long, we repeatedly made errors, however we additionally realized a terrific deal from them. Congratulations to our colleagues within the sister automobile: a incredible and well-deserved title victory!”
Race consequence
Hypercar class:
1. Conway/Kobayashi/de Vries (GBR/JPN/NLD), Toyota #7, 237 laps
2. Buemi/Hartley/Hirakawa (CHE/NZL/JPN), Toyota #8, + 19.378 seconds
3. Fuoco/Molina/Nielsen (ITA/ESP/DNK), Ferrari #50, + 26.342 seconds
13. Campbell/Estre/Vanthoor (AUS/FRA/BEL), Porsche 963 #6, – 1 lap
14. Andlauer/Heinrich/Jaminet (FRA/DEU/FRA), Porsche 963 #5, – 1 lap
17. Jani/Pino/Varrone (CHE/CHL/ARG), Porsche 963 #99, – 2 laps
LMGT3 class:
1. Umbrarescu/Schmied/López (ROM/AUT/ARG), Lexus #87, 216 laps
2. Berry/Hodenius/Martin (AUS/NLD/BEL), Mercedes-AMG #61, + 0.786 seconds
3. James/Robichon/Drudi (USA/CDN/ITA), Aston Martin #27, + 1.837 seconds
4. Hardwick/Lietz/Pera (USA/AUT/ITA), Porsche 911 GT3 R #92, + 14,205 seconds
12. Frey/Gatting/Martin (CHE/DNK/FRA), Porsche 911 GT3 R #85, – 1 lap
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