Pilet, Bachler to Drive Pfaff Porsche in GTD Pro

Photos: Porsche

Patrick Pilet and Klaus Bachler have been named to Pfaff Motorsports’ full-season IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship lineup, as the Canadian squad seeks its third consecutive series title.

Announced on Monday, the two Porsche-affiliated drivers will be joined by Porsche Penske Motorsport pilot Laurens Vanthoor for the Michelin Endurance Cup rounds, including next month’s season-opening Rolex 24 at Daytona.

Pilet and Bachler replace Mathieu Jaminet and Matt Campbell, who took the team to the 2022 GTD Pro title with five class wins. Both drivers are expected to be part of PPM’s Porsche 963 effort in the WeatherTech Championship next year.

Bachler, who will embark on his first full season of IMSA competition, will be on hand during this week’s sanctioned test at Daytona International Speedway with the team’s brand-new Type-992 Porsche 911 GT3 R.

The 31-year-old Austrian, a former Porsche Junior, has been a regular competitor in various sports car racing championships in recent years, including Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS with Dinamic Motorsport.

“Contesting my first season in IMSA with Pfaff Motorsports really honors me,” he said. “Being part of the Pfaff Motorsports family means being part of an extremely professional and successful team.

“I can’t wait to do my first race in the Plaid Porsche surrounded by this great excitement of North American motorsport fans.”

Pilet is a former Porsche factory driver who played a pivotal role in the manufacturer’s success in the IMSA GTLM ranks.

The Frenchman won the class title in 2015 while also achieving wins in the Rolex 24 at Daytona, Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring and overall honors in the 2015 Motul Petit Le Mans.

“I drove in the U.S. for many, many years and I had the chance to win the championship in GTLM and finish second and third in other places,” Pilet said.

“I really feel like home there, it’s a great championship. I love every track and the way you race there. I’m really looking forward to that especially with Pfaff.

“We had a great experience together in the past at Daytona; we had a really quick car and worked really hard. I know how good they are and many guys are still there, so it’s proof that everybody loves to work together.

“I know plenty of the guys as well as new members of the team, so it’s a great opportunity, I’m really looking forward to working with this team.”

Vanthoor, meanwhile, returns to Pfaff after winning the 2021 GTD title alongside Zach Robichon.

“We had a successful relationship with two victories and the championship in 2021, but mainly as well, we have very good private relationship where I had and still have a good understanding with everybody on the team,” he said.

“I’m very much looking forward to being back with them and working together and also spend time together.”

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