Porsche Stars Named in Second WeatherTech GTLM Entry

WeatherTech Racing has finalized its lineup for an expanded two-car entry at this weekend’s Motul Petit Le Mans with Porsche stars Kevin Estre, Michael Christensen and Frederic Makowiecki named in the team’s additional No. 97 car for the GT Le Mans class.

The Proton-run WeatherTech squad is fielding a pair of Porsche 911 RSR-19s in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season finale at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.

2018-19 FIA World Endurance champions and 2021 Nürburgring 24 winners Estre and Christensen are set to share a car in IMSA’s GTLM class for the first time, alongside Makowiecki who is a two-time and defending winner of the 10-hour Petit race.

Estre previously joined the WeatherTech Porsche squad for the Rolex 24 at Daytona, while Christensen is set for his first IMSA GTLM appearance in five years.

The Dane last competed in the outgoing category in 2016, when he took podiums at Daytona and the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring with Makowiecki and Earl Bamber.

WeatherTech Racing’s full-season No. 79 Porsche will contest Petit Le Mans with the lineup of Cooper MacNeil, Mathieu Jaminet and Matt Campbell.

“Together with Porsche we wanted to try and give the IMSA GTLM Class a proper send-off,” said MacNeil.

“Porsche has been a consistent competitor in the Class since its inception.

“The entry will give the field an even six cars and hopefully both of our WeatherTech Porsche entries will be a factor when the checker waves at 10:10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13.”

Estre and Christensen have been a formidable driver pairing in recent years, however Petit will mark the first time that Estre and Makowiecki have shared a race car.

“I am glad to be competing at Petit Le Mans with Fred and Michael,” said Estre, who is arriving off the back of finishing second in the FIA World Endurance Championship.

“I’ve driven a lot with Michael, and we’ve had a lot of success together. This will be my first time sharing a car with Fred, so that will be interesting.

“This will be my second Petit Le Mans, the first was in 2014 and it didn’t go so well. I am looking forward to it.

“I don’t have much experience at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, but I am glad to be back in the Porsche RSR with the Proton Competition guys and hope to win another big one for WeatherTech like they did at Sebring and Road America.”

Makowiecki added: “Petit Le Mans is a very special race, one of the best of the season.

“It is always a big fight. I’ve won it twice in GTLM, last year in 2020 and my first came in 2018. We will try to repeat this next week.

“This will be the first time all of us drive together in the Porsche RSR. We are motivated to have a good result.

“It is also special to be running the last race of the GTLM. The competition level will be high with BMW and Corvette. I am looking forward to the race.”

Christensen, whose last outright IMSA race came with GTD outfit Alegra Motorsports in 2017, finished second at Petit Le Mans in 2014 as part of a one-two Porsche result.

“Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta is narrow and makes for a fast and hectic race,” he said.

“People are excited and ambitious for the race which makes for some chaos on the track. We need to stay out of trouble and be ready to fight for the win late in the race.”