Porsche Secures Crucial Podium Finish in Fuji, Reigniting WEC Championship Hopes

Porsche's factory team demonstrated resilience at the Fuji Speedway, clinching a vital podium position in the latest World Endurance Championship (WEC) race. Despite a challenging start from deep in the grid, the No. 6 Porsche 963 fought its way back to secure third place, keeping their title aspirations alive. The sister No. 5 car also delivered a strong performance, finishing fourth.

Key Takeaways

• The No. 6 Porsche 963, starting 17th, climbed to a podium finish.

• The No. 5 Porsche 963 secured fourth place.

• Proton Competition's Porsche 963 briefly led the race.

• Manthey's Porsche 911 GT3 R entries maintained their LMGT3 class lead despite race setbacks.

A Hard-Fought Race for the Porsche 963

The No. 6 Porsche 963, driven by Laurens Vanthoor and Kévin Estre, faced adversity from the outset, beginning the race in 17th position. Vanthoor made significant gains early on, but an incident requiring a rear wing change sent them back down the order. Despite further challenges, including a yellow flag period that offered no advantage, Estre executed a remarkable restart after a full-course yellow, propelling the car to second. A subsequent five-second penalty for an incorrect pit stop relegated them to third, a position Vanthoor held to the checkered flag.

Julien Andlauer and Mathieu Jaminet in the No. 5 Porsche 963 also navigated a complex race. Starting seventh, they gained positions initially but lost ground due to safety car periods and a drive-through penalty. Jaminet's strong final stint saw them climb from 12th to a commendable fourth place.

Urs Kuratle, Director Factory Motorsport LMDh, expressed satisfaction with the result, stating, "After yesterday’s qualifying, I would have happily accepted third and fourth – that’s a solid and strong outcome." He added that crucial points were gained in the championship fight for second place.

Jonathan Diuguid, Managing Director Porsche Penske Motorsport, acknowledged the team's effort, noting, "We’re taking the points battle for the drivers’ championship to the last race." He also highlighted the need to address penalties for the upcoming season finale.

Proton Competition's Moment in the Lead

Porsche customer team Proton Competition experienced a memorable race in Fuji. Through strategic pit stops and capitalizing on a safety car period, their Porsche 963 briefly held the lead for several laps before ultimately finishing in 12th place.

Manthey's LMGT3 Class Resilience

In the LMGT3 class, both Manthey-run Porsche 911 GT3 R entries faced a turbulent race. Despite leading at times and battling for the top positions, the final safety car phase impacted their strategies. The No. 92 car, driven by Ryan Hardwick, Riccardo Pera, and Richard Lietz, finished fifth, which was sufficient to retain their lead in the drivers' standings heading into the season finale. The No. 85 Iron Dames entry, after overcoming an early deficit and even leading, finished 13th due to penalties and the late safety car.

Race Results (Top Porsche Finishes)

Hypercar Class:

• 3rd: No. 6 Porsche 963 (Estre/Vanthoor)

• 4th: No. 5 Porsche 963 (Andlauer/Jaminet)

• 12th: No. 99 Porsche 963 (Jani/Pino/Varrone)

LMGT3 Class:

• 5th: No. 92 Porsche 911 GT3 R (Hardwick/Pera/Lietz)

• 13th: No. 85 Porsche 911 GT3 R (Martin/Frey/Gatting)