Porsche Aims for Championship Glory at Petit Le Mans with Strong Grid Positions

Porsche is poised to battle for the manufacturers' and drivers' championships at the season-ending Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta. The German marque's 963 prototypes have secured solid starting positions, with the factory entries lining up on the second row, ready to contend for victory in the demanding 10-hour endurance race.

Key Takeaways

• Porsche holds a slim two-point lead in the manufacturers' championship heading into the finale.

• Factory drivers Campbell/Jaminet have a significant 128-point advantage in the drivers' standings.

• The #7 Porsche 963 qualified fourth, and the #6 Porsche 963 qualified sixth.

• The customer #85 JDC-Miller MotorSports Porsche 963 will start 12th.

• The fan-favorite "Rexy" Porsche 911 GT3 R will start fifth in the GTD Pro class.

GTP Class Grid Positions

The two Porsche Penske Motorsport 963 prototypes secured fourth and sixth on the grid for the Petit Le Mans. Felipe Nasr qualified the #7 car in fourth place, expressing confidence in the car's long-run pace and its potential for the race, especially as it often concludes under darkness. Matt Campbell, piloting the #6 car, will start sixth, acknowledging that while not ideal, the 10-hour duration allows ample opportunity to move forward. The customer team JDC-Miller MotorSports, with Max Esterson at the wheel of the #85 Porsche 963, will start from 12th position.

Urs Kuratle, Director Factory Motorsport LMDh, remains optimistic, stating, "Starting from fourth and sixth is a solid and perfectly acceptable result. Our long-run pace in Thursday’s practice was great. We head into the race and title battle with confidence." Jonathan Diuguid, Managing Director Porsche Penske Motorsport, added, "On Thursday, we were fast in the night practice, which is crucial, as this race is often decided after dark. If we can stay in the leading pack until the final phase, everything is possible for us in the big finale."

GT Class Competitiveness

In the GTD Pro class, the distinctive "Rexy" Porsche 911 GT3 R, driven by Laurin Heinrich, Klaus Bachler, and Michael Christensen, will start from fifth place. Heinrich expressed satisfaction with the qualifying lap, noting that Road Atlanta should suit the car well and anticipating a strong performance. In the GTD class, Adam Adelson in the Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R qualified 16th, emphasizing a focus on a flawless race strategy and execution over starting position.

Championship Scenarios

Porsche enters the season finale with a narrow two-point lead in the manufacturers' championship. The factory drivers, Matt Campbell and Mathieu Jaminet, have established a commanding 128-point advantage in the drivers' championship, putting them in a strong position to secure the title.

Race Details

The 28th edition of Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta commences on Saturday, October 11th, at 12:10 PM local time. For viewers outside the USA and Canada, the race will be streamed live and free of charge via imsa.tv.