Porsche Fields Three Porsche 963 And Three Porsche 911 GT3 R At Le Mans 2025

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Porsche is gearing up for the 2025 endurance racing season with a strong presence at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The Porsche Penske Motorsport factory team will field three Porsche 963 hybrid prototypes. Alongside regular drivers from the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Formula E World Champion Pascal Wehrlein will make his Le Mans debut.

As a highlight of the motorsport calendar, the 24-hour race attracts over 325,000 fans annually. Porsche aims to build on its legacy of 19 overall victories at Le Mans. The manufacturer has ambitious goals for this year's event, hoping to secure another win with their advanced hybrid prototypes.

In addition to the factory team's efforts, customer squad Proton Competition will add a fourth Porsche 963 to the Hypercar grid. Defending class champions Manthey will enter three Porsche 911 GT3 R cars in the LMGT3 category. This comprehensive lineup underscores Porsche's commitment to success at this prestigious event.

The race serves as round four of the FIA World Endurance Championship and offers double championship points due to its extended distance. Held since 1923, it features unique elements like Slow Zones due to its lengthy circuit. The race begins on June 14 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time / 4:00 p.m. CET.

Jonathan Diuguid, Managing Director of Porsche Penske Motorsport, highlighted their meticulous preparations: "For the first time, we've prepped all three Porsche 963 at our facility in Mannheim - a big milestone." He added that they are better prepared than ever before with an extremely reliable car and a world-class driver lineup.

Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President of Porsche Motorsport, expressed confidence in their chances: "Since the regulations were introduced, the Porsche 963 has proven to be the most successful LMDh race car in both the FIA WEC and IMSA series." He emphasized their determination to secure a 20th overall win for Porsche.

Driver Insights

Pascal Wehrlein shared his excitement about participating: "It's incredible to finally be here at Le Mans. I have to learn a lot during practice." Meanwhile, Michael Christensen noted that despite challenges earlier in their WEC season, they have learned valuable lessons that will aid them at Le Mans.

Laurens Vanthoor expressed his readiness for the challenge: "I've been preparing physically and mentally for weeks - I feel fitter and more ready than ever." Nico Pino acknowledged that while their WEC season hasn't gone as planned, Le Mans presents new opportunities.

Manthey's Strong Presence

Manthey is fielding three Porsche 911 GT3 R cars in the LMGT3 class. Each car produces up to 416 kW (565 hp). The Manthey Nr. 92 will feature drivers Ryan Hardwick, Riccardo Pera, and Richard Lietz. The Iron Dames Nr. 85 includes Rahel Frey, Célia Martin, and Sarah Bovy.

The Manthey Nr. 90 is entered under "Chip Hart Racing," driven by Antares Au, Loek Hartog, and Klaus Bachler. This car was featured in filming for an upcoming movie starring Brad Pitt set to premiere globally on June 25.

Porsche's Charitable Initiative

Porsche is also supporting charitable causes during this event by donating €500 for every lap completed by its three factory-entered cars. The funds raised will benefit Kinderherzen retten e.V. and Interplast Germany e.V., organizations aiding critically ill children worldwide.

This initiative has already raised €1,811,000 over two years through similar efforts at previous races.

Broadcast Information

Fans can watch all WEC races on HBO Max or catch live coverage of Le Mans via Nitro (RTL Group) and Eurosport in Germany. Additionally, official FIA WEC and ACO Le Mans apps offer paid livestreaming options along with live timing features for enthusiasts worldwide.

The anticipation builds as teams prepare meticulously for what promises to be another thrilling edition of this iconic endurance race where strategy plays a crucial role alongside flawless pit work amidst fierce competition from other manufacturers vying for victory across various classes including Hypercar class featuring multiple entries from different teams aiming high stakes glory under challenging conditions expected throughout weekend-long spectacle unfolding soon enough!