Porsche Open to Three-Driver Squads for Some Six-Hour Races

Photo: Javier Jimenez/DPPI

Porsche Penske Motorsport has not ruled out utilizing three-driver lineups for selected six-hour FIA World Endurance Championship races next year according to Porsche LMDh factory director Urs Kuratle, who said the consolidation of its factory 963 driving crew was the “best solution” for 2025.

The German manufacturer has trimmed its core lineup from ten to eight drivers, with both Dane Cameron and Andre Lotterer having been dropped from the team and the departing Fred Makowiecki being replaced by Julien Andlauer.

As a result, Porsche Penske will have only four full-time drivers in the WEC spread across its two Porsche 963s, with Andlauer and Michael Christensen in the No. 5 and Laurens Vanthoor and Kevin Estre piloting the No. 6 car for the entire eight-round championship.

They’ll be joined by IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship co-drivers Mathieu Jaminet (No. 5) and Matt Campbell (No. 6) for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, as well as the Qatar 1812km and season-ending 8 Hours of Bahrain.

However, Kuratle indicated that Jaminet and Campbell may get called up to contest additional WEC races beyond the already confirmed three rounds, with a final decision not yet made.

“It’s not defined yet,” he told Sportscar365. “It’s an open discussion, also with the drivers. There are races which are physically harder and we can discuss whether to take three drivers.

“COTA, for example [is one]. The temperatures is quite physical and quite hard for the drivers, and if the demand comes up, this would be a discussion we’re having with the drivers together.

“We made the lineup in a way where we have the possibilities to do it.”

The only race that Porsche Penske cannot lean on Jaminet or Campbell as third would be the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, which clashes with the WeatherTech Championship round at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

It is the only conflicting event between Hypercar and GTP classes in the two series next year.

“Spa is the only exception,” said Kuratle. “Spa next year is the only clash we have with the IMSA races. Besides this we can decide on whatever we feel the best for us and for the drivers.”

Kuratle feels the its reduced driver pool will yield gains next year, with drivers like Jaminet, Campbell, Estre and Vanthoor being mixed into both series.

“We came up that was the best solution for us for 2025,” he said. “Seat time and also time for the individual drivers with the engineers. That was one of the main reasons why we decided to go for this approach.

“That will be more seat time for the drivers and more feedback the drivers can give to the engineers.”

Campbell, meanwhile, believes that other Hypercar manufacturers could follow the trend that was started by Cadillac Racing this year.

“I think yes and no,” he told Sportscar365. “I think there will definitely be different approaches from different manufacturers in terms of what they want to try and do.

“With Le Mans being the big focus, maybe some think three are better full season to be able to have the best team possible for the big race.

“Obviously, we’ll try and do as much before the main race as possible.

“But in saying that, obviously, I’ve done a full season in WEC and racing the car full time in IMSA so I don’t see why it would matter if you do two or three. I think it’s just different approaches from different manufacturers.”

Davey Euwema contributed to this report

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