Wehrlein Targeting Le Mans; Daytona Prospects With JDC

Photo: Porsche

Pascal Wehrlein said a debut in the 24 Hours of Le Mans is the “next thing” on his radar while also not dismissing a possible outing in JDC-Miller Motorsports’ Porsche 963 in next month’s Rolex 24 at Daytona.

The 2023-24 ABB FIA Formula E world champion drove the Minnesota-based team’s GTP class entry in last month’s IMSA-sanctioned test at Daytona International International Speedway, in what marked the 30-year-old German’s second outing in the 963 following an endurance test at Sebring International Raceway in October 2022.

“I drove the car before it even started racing, that was in Sebring,” he told Formula E Notebook in an exclusive interview. “It was a 24-hour test or 36-hour test.

“I don’t have a lot of experience with the car. And obviously also the last couple of years I’ve only raced in Formula E. It was great to be back also in a different car and get that feeling again.

“The car reminds me a lot of the DTM. That’s what I said already a couple of years ago when I tested in Sebring. It really reminds me of the feeling let’s say of old DTM times. Not today’s DTM, but when I drove DTM before that.

“Straight away I felt comfortable at Daytona. The first laps on the banking was quite a cool experience. I didn’t have time to go in the simulator or prepare or anything because I just got the call two days before going there.

“It was cool, I really enjoyed it. Also, with the team working there it’s a whole different atmosphere in the U.S. and doing those IMSA tests which was nice.”

When asked if he could join the team’s lineup for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season season opener, Wehrlein said: “Let’s see how it fits.”

The 2024-25 Formula E season sees a nearly month gap between Round 2 in Mexico City on Jan. 11 and the double-header in Saudi Arabia in mid-February.

“My main priority is Formula E and always will be,” he added.

“It was really short notice the test in Daytona. The team in the U.S., they asked my team if they have a driver. I guess by winning the championship I got preference and they asked me if I want to do it, so I said why not.

“They said tomorrow you need to jump in the plane and go to the U.S., it was very short notice. Thank you very much, I will do it. Let’s see the next couple of days and weeks what could work out additionally to my main program.”

A potential outing in JDC-Miller’s Porsche could serve a prelude to a run in this year’s French endurance classic, which is also free of conflict with Formula E, with Porsche Penske Motorsport set to field a third factory 963 via an automatic invite after winning the IMSA GTP title.

Porsche would need an additional driver to join WeatherTech Championship regulars Felipe Nasr and Nick Tandy in the third 963, with Sebastian Vettel having also been mentioned as a potential candidate.

Wehrlein said: “I want to race in Le Mans, and I want to win Le Mans. That’s a big goal of my career.

“Saying that, I just turned 30 years old and I feel like, out of my career that’s the next thing I should win, or I want to win.

“I’ve won DTM, I’ve won Formula E, and then I’ve won Le Mans, so I think there’s not much more in my position what I could win. That’s why it’s such a big goal for me.”

Sam Smith contributed to this report

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John