Bernhard Serving as Link to Porsche Drivers, Engineers

Photo: Juergen Tap/Porsche

Timo Bernhard said he’s enjoying his new LMDh team and driver development role with Porsche Penske Motorsport, with the two-time 24 Hours of Le Mans overall winner serving as a “link” between the team’s drivers and engineers.

Bernhard, who also holds two FIA World Endurance Championship titles, joined the factory Hypercar squad at the last WEC round at Spa-Francorchamps in his new position, and will also be available to the team’s IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship operation remotely.

The new role, which comes into full effect at this weekend’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, is in addition to Bernhard’s brand ambassador status with the German manufacturer.

“Spa was the first race for me to get an overview,” Bernhard told Sportscar365. “In the end it’s to help the drivers, maybe [be] a link to the team or to engineers just to see what can be improved or just also to help with the experience.

“Because sometimes I think it’s not bad to have somebody who knows how it feels, how it is in the car.”

The 43-year-old German played a key part in Porsche’s last top class factory program with the 919 Hybrid, which claimed three consecutive drivers and manufacturers’ world championships from 2015-17.

Bernhard began his driving career with Porsche in 2000, scoring numerous wins and championships in both prototype and GT machinery.

“I know the drivers very well from back in the days, but also from various GT races and stuff,” he said.

“Like Michael Christensen. I was doing two races in Carrera Cup when he was a junior to fill in for Sascha Maassen, because he had a clash. So this was like 2012, so that’s the first time I met Michael.

“So I know the drivers very well. I know their qualities and capabilities and that helps for sure.”

Matt Campbell, who has returned to full-time WEC competition this year in the No. 5 Penske Porsche, said Bernhard has so far been a valuable asset to the organization.

“It’s been really good,” he told Sportscar365. “He’s been in our position, being involved in such programs in the past.

“Obviously he’s got a lot of experience that he can bring into the program and can understand from a driver’s side of what we’re trying to get across to the engineers and so-forth and can maybe push a little bit more in that area on where we can help or improve.

“He can also get a better global overview of every aspect of the program, which is obviously to have someone of his experience is super helpful.”

Bernhard, meanwhile, said he’s seen significant gains in the overall operation of the Porsche Penske squad since its Le Mans debut in 2023.

“I was here last year and watching, and now this year it’s a huge step forward,” he added.

“The first year is always the toughest, because you need to get the team together, all the humans, how they communicate and everybody knows what to do.

“Then for sure, if you have a car which is not reliable and not yet at 100 percent, for sure, it doesn’t help either.

“You need to get the mileage as well. But I think now it’s on a very high level.

“You see as well, things calm down and everybody knows the job and knows what to do. So that’s a big quality. That’s how you can go into a race and have a successful race.”

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