Christensen: Porsche “Here to Win” in GTD Pro after 2023 Woes

Porsche’s Michael Christensen is confident that AO Racing can mount a challenge for GTD Pro honors in the Rolex 24 at Daytona after a difficult debut for the Type-992 Porsche 911 GT3 R last year.

Christensen is spearheading Porsche’s sole team in the GTD Pro class as the Michelin Endurance Cup driver for AO’s No. 77 car for next weekend’s IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship curtain-raiser alongside full-time drivers Seb Priaulx and Laurin Heinrich.

Porsche suffered a difficult race in the GTD ranks last year at Daytona, with the then-brand new latest iteration of the 911 GT3 R proving well off the pace.

But Christensen, who is part of Porsche’s FIA World Endurance Championship effort in the Hypercar class, believes that progress made since, combined with a change to IMSA’s Balance of Performance process, should make this year’s race a different story.

“Of course we are here to win,” the Dane told Sportscar365. “Last year was a bit of a tough ride for the Porsche teams, but it looks like over the year the car became more competitive. 

“I drove the car in the Nürburgring 24 last year, and the car was working well.

“It’s a bit hard to talk about the BoP, because I didn’t follow IMSA that closely last year, but this year it looks better for us. I guess that IMSA and the Porsche teams have more knowledge of the car to get it in the window.”

German driver Heinrich was likewise bullish about AO’s chances despite he and Priaulx’s relative inexperience compared to 2017 GTD Rolex 24 winner Christensen.

“We have a really strong team around us with AO Racing stepping up from GTD to GTD Pro,” Heinrich told Sportscar365. “I think we have a great lineup. 

“Seb has raced in America for a few years and knows the team already, and on the other side, Michael nows how to win the race, which is incredibly valuable for us young drivers. I am the new guy on the block, but I know the car from Europe. 

“The three of us form a strong team, we can profit from each other in a certain way. We have a year of experience with this car and I hope we can be successful.”

On sharing a car with Heinrich and Priaulx, Christensen added: “It’s a team effort. Hopefully I can bring something to the table for the other drivers.

“And I think they can help me, because they have more experience of this car (992) than I have.”

U. S. Outings Made Heinrich “Dream” of WeatherTech Championship Ride

Heinrich has risen to the position of WeatherTech Championship full-timer after two full seasons racing in Porsche Supercup in 2021-22 and twin campaigns in the DTM and the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS last year.

The 22-year-old said that one-off outings in Porsche Carrera Cup North America and the Indianapolis 8 Hour over the past two years had planted the idea of racing Stateside full-time in his mind.

“Racing in America is a totally different style and atmosphere, and I love it,” Heinrich said.

“From the moment I did my first race here, which was the Carrera Cup North America support race at Petit Le Mans in 2022, I fell in love and I had this dream. 

“Then I did the IGTC Indy 8 Hour last year, I put it on pole, and I knew for this year it was my big goal to race in IMSA.

“To be in GTD Pro in my first year, it’s a big step. I am really thankful for the confidence from Porsche. It’s a dream come true to race in these big events.”