Photo credit: Porsche
Porsche Penske Motorsport achieved a notable success at the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship sprint race held in Long Beach, California, with its two Porsche 963 vehicles finishing in first and second place. This victory marks the third win for the team in the current season, following earlier successes at Daytona and Sebring. Felipe Nasr and Nick Tandy shared driving responsibilities in the No. 7 car, while Matt Campbell and Mathieu Jaminet drove the No. 6 car, which secured the second position.
During the race, which lasted 100 minutes on a narrow street circuit, the Porsche team executed a strategic pit stop during the first safety car phase. This maneuver allowed both Porsche 963 cars to gain an advantage over their competitors, leading to a one-two finish for the second time this season. Jonathan Diuguid, Managing Director of Porsche Penske Motorsport, commented on the importance of the pit work in achieving this victory, stating, “The pitwork was decisive in our victory today.”
In the GT Daytona class, AO Racing’s Porsche 911 GT3 R, driven by factory driver Laurens Vanthoor and Jonny Edgar, also achieved victory, contributing to Porsche’s overall success in multiple classes during the event. The team’s performance in the GTD class was particularly highlighted, as Vanthoor extended his winning streak, having previously won alongside Tandy and Nasr.
Despite the overall success, JDC-Miller MotorSports faced challenges, with their Porsche 963 encountering difficulties that resulted in a tenth-place finish. Gianmaria Bruni and Tijmen van der Helm drove the No. 85 car, which was unable to secure a top result due to an incident while lapping a slower vehicle.
In another competitive event, Porsche also performed well in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship Miami E-Prix, with Pascal Wehrlein finishing in first place and António Félix da Costa in third. This success further solidifies Porsche’s strong presence in motorsport this season.
Overall, Porsche’s performance across different racing classes demonstrates their competitive edge, with their drivers leading in the championship standings. The team aims to maintain this momentum as the season progresses.