Drivers, Manufacturers’ Titles “Equally Possible” for Porsche

Photo: Javier Jimenez/DPPI

Achieving both the Hypercar drivers’ and manufacturers’ world championships in this weekend’s FIA World Endurance Championship season-ending 8 Hours of Bahrain is “equally possible” according to Penske Racing President Jonathan Diuguid, who along with drivers Laurens Vanthoor and Kevin Estre aim to end Porsche’s factory tenure in the championship on a high note.

Defending world champions Vanthoor and Estre head into Saturday’s title-decider, which will provide 1.5x points of a normal six-hour WEC race, 21 points behind leaders Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado and Antonio Giovinazzi of Ferrari.

With AF Corse’s satellite No. 83 Ferrari 499P, which took victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, sitting second in the standings with Robert Kubica, Yifei Ye and Phil Hanson, eight points ahead of the Porsche Penske Motorsport duo, all is still to play for in the drivers’ world championship, with numerous scenarios at play.

A maximum of 39 points are up for grabs this weekend, when factoring in a bonus point for pole position.

Porsche, which came two points short of winning the manufacturers’ world championship last year, could have a more challenging task this time around, as the German brand trails Ferrari by 39 points, with third-placed Cadillac mathematically still in with a slim chance of the title.

With both factory cars scoring points in the manufacturers’ championship, a maximum of 66 points are possible.

“It’s been quite a run of podium streaks that has put us in the position,” said Diuguid. “In 2024 we just missed out on the manufacturers’ title by two points, so it was quite close and something that we weren’t able to achieve.

“In 2023 we finished third, in 2024, we finished second and our goal is to finish first here in 2025. I think the performance of the team has been quite strong.

“Both cars are performing well, and that’s part of the manufacturers’ championship, is that both cars score points, so we just need a strong day for Porsche Penske and we’ll end up where we want to end up.”

When asked which title they would have a better chance of achieving in Porsche Penske’s final WEC outing following its previously announced withdrawal from Hypercar competition at the end of the season, Diuguid insisted they will not sacrifice one over the other.

“Honestly, no, the [manufacturers’] is not the priority,” he said. “I think the goal is to walk away with as many championships as we can.

“If that’s one, if that’s two, I think the team will view that as a success.

“Both are equally possible. The feedback and the way I’ve told people on the team is that if the race results in Bahrain finish the same as they finished in Fuji, we would walk away with both world championships.

“It’s definitely achievable. One is not going to take priority over the other but if it comes down to it and the 6 [car] has the opportunity win the drivers’ world championship with that group, we’re absolutely going to take that and take what we can and try and not sacrifice one versus the other.”

Both Estre and Vanthoor, who won the 2024 world championship with Andre Lotterter, admitted they didn’t imagine being in title contention after a near-disastrous start to their season, which saw an 11th place result in Qatar, followed by eighth and ninth place finishes in the six-hour races at Imola and Spa-Fracorchamps, respectively.

However, it was a runner-up finish in the double points-paying Le Mans round, a fourth in Sao Paulo and a breakthrough first win of the season at the Lone Star Le Mans at Circuit of The Americas, and a series of three races where the Ferraris struggled to score points, is where things turned around.

“Before heading to Le Mans we were already like, ‘OK, it’s not going to happen this year’ because Ferrari was very strong, winning all of the races,” said Vanthoor.

“After Le Mans it was still the same thought [for me personally], but it was in Austin that I was like, ‘If we have a good race in Fuji and they make mistakes, which they have been in those previous races, then we still have as hot.

“It was in Austin when I personally started believing in it and tried also to convince the others around us that it’s still possible.

“Today we’re in a situation where it is still possible.

“We’re not in the same position as last year where we were the favorites but I know, and it clearly showed, how much pressure that situation gives and it’s easy to make mistakes.

“This year were the other way [around] where we have nothing to lose and all the cards on the table.

“Everything’s still possible. Don’t ask me why but I firmly believe in it.”

Estre added: “It’s the main goal for the end of the season. Obviously we want to show the IMSA side that the WEC side is as good. They won everything there, so let’s see and try to clinch these titles.

“The motivation is super high, for sure, to finish very strong and show to the world that we are still the benchmark out there.”

Vanthoor: “It’s Easier to Attack Than Defend”

The No. 6 Porsche crew headed into last year’s Bahrain season finale with a commanding 35-point lead in the drivers’ world championship but failed to score points in a never-wracking up-and-down race against the title-contending No. 50 Ferrari, which ultimately ended up not also finishing in the top-ten.

“You always want to be in a position where you have a points advantage compared to others and you have more room in terms of your result,” said Vanthoor.

“But it’s definitely a more stressful situation when you have everything to lose.

“This year it’s the opposite and we’ll have to perform and be better than them and maybe have a bit of luck on our side.

“But in terms of approach, it’s way more relaxing.

“Not everything is in our control. We just have to do absolutely the best we can and put everything on the table and go for it without too much thinking and without holding back.

“It’s always easier to attack than to defend.”

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