Porsche Penske Motorsport Eyes Watkins Glen Victory to Extend Championship Lead

Porsche Penske Motorsport is set to compete at Watkins Glen International, leading the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Following a series of impressive victories and podium finishes, the team aims to extend its lead at the challenging New York circuit. Two Porsche 963 prototypes will spearhead their efforts in the top-tier GTP class.

Porsche Penske Motorsport Leads the Charge

Porsche Penske Motorsport arrives at Watkins Glen as the championship leader, boasting victories at Daytona, Sebring, Long Beach, and Laguna Seca, alongside a podium finish in Detroit. The team's factory-run Porsche 963 racers secured a first and third-place finish at Watkins Glen last year, highlighting their strong performance at this high-speed track.

• The No. 7 Porsche, driven by Felipe Nasr and Nick Tandy, currently leads the drivers' championship.

• The No. 6 sister car, shared by Matt Campbell and Mathieu Jaminet, ranks second.

• Porsche Penske Motorsport also tops the team standings, with Porsche leading the manufacturers' classification.

Strategic Confidence and Track Suitability

Porsche Motorsport leadership expresses strong confidence heading into the race. Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President of Porsche Motorsport, noted, "The track suits our Porsche 963 perfectly. We won in our 2023 debut season, and last year we finished first and third." Urs Kuratle, Director Factory Racing LMDh, added, "The results over the past two seasons show how well this circuit suits us."

Jonathan Diuguid, Managing Director Porsche Penske Motorsport, highlighted the team's readiness: "We were very strong at Watkins Glen last year, in both wet and dry conditions, and came away with the win. For the upcoming race, we’ll be running the hard Michelin tyre compound for the first time this season. It performed well during testing a few weeks ago on the Porsche 963, so we’re heading into the six-hour endurance race with confidence."

"Rexy" Returns and GTD Entries

Fans will be excited by the return of the popular "Rexy" livery in the GTD Pro class. The bright green dinosaur-liveried Porsche 911 GT3 R will be driven by former Porsche Juniors Laurin Heinrich and Klaus Bachler. In the GTD class, the No. 120 Wright Motorsports car will feature Americans Adam Adelson and Elliott Skeer, alongside Australian Tom Sargent.

Watkins Glen: A Historic and Demanding Circuit

Watkins Glen International, a 5.47-kilometer track with eleven corners and significant elevation changes, is renowned for its fast directional changes and minimal run-off areas, making it the fastest circuit on the IMSA calendar. Porsche has a rich history at the track, with twelve overall victories, including last season's win with the Porsche 963.

Driver Insights

Drivers anticipate a challenging yet thrilling race:

• Matt Campbell (Porsche 963 #6): "The track is incredibly fast and a lot of fun – I’m really looking forward to it.

• Felipe Nasr (Porsche 963 #7): "Watkins Glen is a fantastic venue, especially with its fast corners. We managed to win there last year despite difficult weather."

• Klaus Bachler (Porsche 911 GT3 R #77): "Our goal is to extend our lead in the GTD Pro standings."

Race Schedule (Local Time)

• Friday, June 20:11:25 – 12:55 hrs: Free practice 1

• Saturday, June 21:09:00 – 10:30 hrs: Free practice 214:20 – 14:35 hrs: Qualifying GTD14:45 – 15:00 hrs: Qualifying GTD-Pro15:35 – 15:50 hrs: Qualifying GTP

• Sunday, June 22:12:10 – 18:10 hrs: Race