Porsche 963 Faces Uphill Battle in WEC Season Finale from P8
- Porsche Blog
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
The final race of the World Endurance Championship (WEC) season in Bahrain presents a challenging start for the top Porsche 963 entries. Despite aiming for strong grid positions, both factory cars struggled with grip in the hot conditions, qualifying eighth and eighteenth. Porsche still has a chance to clinch the manufacturers' championship, while drivers Estre and Vanthoor aim to defend their title.
Key Takeaways
Porsche 963 #5 qualified eighth, while #6 will start from eighteenth.
Both factory Porsche 963 cars faced grip issues due to high track temperatures.
Porsche is still in contention for the manufacturers' championship.
The LMGT3 class saw disappointing qualifying results for the Porsche 911 GT3 R entries.
Challenging Qualifying Conditions
High track temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius and air temperatures reaching 29 degrees Celsius significantly impacted the performance of the factory Porsche 963 cars during qualifying at the Bahrain International Circuit. This made it difficult for the drivers to achieve optimal grip, affecting their chances for top starting positions. Kévin Estre in the #6 car was eliminated early in qualifying, starting 18th, while Julien Andlauer in the #5 car managed to secure eighth place in the Hyperpole shootout.
Team's Perspective and Race Hopes
Jonathan Diuguid, Managing Director of Porsche Penske Motorsport, acknowledged the difficulties but expressed confidence in the team's race pace. "Our number 5 car was able to realise the full potential of the Porsche 963 today – Julien did a fantastic job," he stated. "Unfortunately, Kévin locked up his brakes on his first flying lap and was unable to make up ground afterwards. I’m confident that our two hybrid prototypes will perform better in the race. We also started from far behind at Le Mans and Fuji yet still achieved top results."
LMGT3 Class Struggles
The LMGT3 class proved equally challenging for the Porsche 911 GT3 R cars. Both Manthey-run entries struggled to match the pace of the front-runners. Ryan Hardwick, driving the championship-leading Manthey 1st Phorm Porsche, qualified 17th, while Célia Martin in the Iron Dames 911 GT3 R secured 18th on the grid. Drivers expressed disappointment with their qualifying performance, citing setup challenges and temperature differences compared to practice sessions.
Championship Implications
This eighth and final round of the FIA World Endurance Championship marks the 50th race for the Porsche 963, which has been a highly successful LMDh prototype. Porsche still has a chance to secure the manufacturers' championship, adding significant stakes to the eight-hour race. The drivers' title defense by Estre and Vanthoor also adds another layer of excitement to the season finale.
Qualifying Results Overview
Hypercar Class:
LMGT3 Class:
The race is scheduled to commence on Saturday, November 8th, at 2 PM local time.
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