Porsche Claims First WEC Win of the Season in Dramatic Austin Race

Porsche secured its maiden World Endurance Championship (WEC) victory of the season at the "Lone Star Le Mans" in Austin, Texas. The #6 Porsche 963, driven by Kévin Estre, Laurens Vanthoor, and Matt Campbell, triumphed in challenging, rain-soaked conditions, holding off the competition by over eight seconds.

Key Takeaways

• Porsche's #6 963 secured their first WEC win of the season.

• The race was heavily impacted by rain, leading to a Safety Car start and a red flag.

• Manthey 1st Phorm extended their championship lead in the LMGT3 category.

A Race Against the Elements

The weekend at the Circuit of the Americas was marked by dramatic weather changes, from sunshine to heavy rain. Race day saw persistent showers, forcing race control to initiate a Safety Car start. The field circulated behind the pace car for nearly an hour before a red flag stoppage halted proceedings. Racing finally commenced 100 minutes after the scheduled start, but the slippery track surface led to numerous incidents and further Safety Car interventions.

Flawless Performance in Difficult Conditions

Despite the treacherous conditions, the two factory-run Porsche Penske Motorsport 963 prototypes managed to avoid major incidents. Kévin Estre took the lead in the #6 car after four and a half hours and maintained it to the checkered flag. The sister #5 car, which had been in podium contention, ultimately finished tenth. The customer-entered Porsche 963 from Proton Competition finished in thirteenth place.

Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President Porsche Motorsport, praised the team's performance: "The entire team, and especially our drivers, delivered a superb performance under very tough conditions. This win is absolutely deserved. It feels fantastic to celebrate our first victory of the year."

LMGT3 Category Update

In the LMGT3 class, the Manthey 1st Phorm team successfully defended its championship lead. Despite a strong effort from Richard Lietz in the #92 Porsche 911 GT3 R, the car finished eighth due to worn tires. The Iron Dames' Porsche 911 GT3 R retired from the race with two laps remaining due to a technical issue.

The next round of the FIA World Endurance Championship will be held on September 28 at Fuji, Japan.