Porsche Aims for Clean Sweep at IMSA Season Finale 'Petit Le Mans'

Porsche is gearing up for a decisive showdown at the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship finale, the "Petit Le Mans" at Road Atlanta. The German manufacturer is aiming to defend all its titles in a thrilling conclusion to the season, with tight battles in both the drivers' and manufacturers' championships.

Key Takeaways

• Porsche leads the manufacturers' standings by a slim seven-point margin over Acura.

• The driver's championship is contested between two Porsche pairings, with Campbell/Jaminet holding the lead.

• Porsche aims to secure its twelfth IMSA win with the 963 and retain all championship titles.

Title Defense on the Line

Porsche enters the "Petit Le Mans" with a narrow seven-point lead in the manufacturers' championship, facing strong competition from Acura. With 350 points available for a win and 35 for pole position, every session at the ten-hour endurance race will be critical. Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President Porsche Motorsport, expressed confidence, stating, "We will give absolutely everything at Road Atlanta to defend all titles." He added that despite challenges after an "extraordinary start with four wins in a row," the team is focused on flawless execution.

Driver Championship Scenarios

In the drivers' standings, the fight is primarily between two Porsche duos. Matt Campbell and Mathieu Jaminet lead with 2,582 points, followed closely by teammates Felipe Nasr and Nick Tandy in second place with 2,451 points. A seventh-place finish would be sufficient for Campbell and Jaminet to clinch the title. The team's championship scenario mirrors this, with a similar outcome needed for the team to secure the crown.

Porsche 963 Performance

Urs Kuratle, Director Factory Motorsport LMDh, highlighted the Porsche 963's success, noting it has been the most successful LMDh car since the regulations began in 2023, with eleven IMSA wins. "The team, the drivers, and above all the Porsche 963 bring everything needed for another triumph," Kuratle stated, targeting a twelfth win at Road Atlanta and retaining all championship titles.

The "Petit Le Mans" Challenge

Jonathan Diuguid, Managing Director Porsche Penske Motorsport, described the "Petit Le Mans" as one of the most difficult races on the IMSA calendar due to the tight Road Atlanta circuit and high car count. "We are not taking anything for granted," Diuguid commented, emphasizing the need for focus to achieve the desired outcome.

Porsche Penske Motorsport will field two Porsche 963 prototypes. The #6 car will be driven by Matt Campbell, Mathieu Jaminet, and Julien Andlauer. The #7 car will feature Felipe Nasr, Nick Tandy, and Laurens Vanthoor. JDC-Miller MotorSports will also enter a #85 Porsche 963 with Tijmen van der Helm, Max Esterson, and Neel Jani.

GT Class Competitions

In the GTD class, Wright Motorsports is competing for the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup with their Porsche 911 GT3 R, driven by Adam Adelson, Elliott Skeer, and Tom Sargent. In GTD Pro, AO Racing aims for a third win with their "Rexy" Porsche 911 GT3 R, piloted by Laurin Heinrich, Klaus Bachler, and Michael Christensen.

Race Details

The "Petit Le Mans" is a 10-hour race held at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. The event is scheduled to begin on Saturday, October 11, at 12:10 p.m. local time. Fans outside the USA and Canada can watch the race live on imsa.tv.