Breaking: Porsche Penske Motorsport Swaps Drivers for Spa-Francorchamps, North Americans Out Due to Scheduling Clash
Porsche Penske Motorsport confirms a driver lineup shuffle for the upcoming FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) round at Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium. Australian Matt Campbell and Frenchman Mathieu Jaminet, who competed in Qatar and Italy, will skip the event due to a scheduling conflict with the North American IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
In their place, Formula E champion Pascal Wehrlein will step into the No. 6 Porsche 963 alongside reigning drivers’ world champions Kevin Estre of France and Belgian Laurens Vanthoor. Wehrlein, now a factory driver for the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team, is set to make his 24 Hours of Le Mans debut later this year.
Swiss driver Nico Müller, currently racing in Formula E for the Porsche customer team Andretti, will join the No. 5 car with regular drivers Julien Andlauer and Michael Christensen. Müller has been named reserve driver for the 24 Hours of Le Mans later in June.
The team’s vice president, Thomas Laudenbach, expressed optimism about the changes, "I’m thrilled to offer this opportunity to our Formula E factory drivers and confident they will perform brilliantly with the 963." He added that the team is eager to turn things around after disappointing results in Qatar and Imola, aiming for a strong performance at the Belgium race, which is seen as a dress rehearsal for the Le Mans race.
The Hypercar class lead by Porsche Penske faces increased rivalry this season, with other manufacturers also fighting for contention. The upcoming race at Spa-Francorchamps, set to take place from May 8-10, will serve as a crucial indicator of where the team stands heading into the Le Mans 24 Hours.
Headline: Porsche Penske Motorsport Wheels Out Formula E Stars for Spa-Francorchamps; Laudenbach Aims for Strong Belgian Showing
Subheading: World Champions Vanthoor, Estre, and Wehrlein Headline Porsche’s Hypercar Effort; Jani Targets Repeat Proton Performance
Porsche Penske Motorsport turns to Formula E champions for Spa round
In a strategic lineup change, Porsche Penske Motorsport has called upon Formula E champion Pascal Wehrlein and reserve driver Nico Müller to replace Matt Campbell and Mathieu Jaminet for the upcoming FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) round at Spa-Francorchamps. The German driver duo will join reigning world champions Kévin Estre and Laurens Vanthoor in the No. 6 Porsche 963, while Julien Andlauer and Michael Christensen will be joined by Müller in the No. 5 car.
Vice President Porsche Motorsport, Thomas Laudenbach, expressed confidence in the replacement drivers: "I’m thrilled we could offer our Formula E factory drivers a cockpit at Spa. I’m sure Pascal and Nico will handle the Porsche 963 brilliantly."
Laudenbach also shared his determination to turn around the team’s fortunes after disappointing results in Qatar and Imola, targeting a strong showing at the Belgian circuit.
Porsche Penske Motorsport eyes redemption at iconic Spa-Francorchamps
The historic Belgian track, nicknamed the "Ardennes rollercoaster," will host the third round of the WEC season, the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. The circuit’s lengthy straights and fast corners are expected to suit the Porsche 963, which recorded a one-two finish at the track last year.
Urs Kuratle, Director of Factory Racing LMDh, echoed Laudenbach’s confidence, stating, "The Porsche 963 achieved a one-two result at Spa last year, so that makes me confident. The data and experience from the 2024 season, as well as the insights from the recent tests in Belgium, will help us."
Jonathan Diuguid, Managing Director Porsche Penske Motorsport, added, "Spa is an iconic circuit that seems to suit the Porsche 963 extremely well. It has been resurfaced since last year’s race, and the grip has increased, which will lead to quicker lap times. We look forward to the 6 Hours of Spa, aiming for a strong result."
Did you know? Spa-Francorchamps is the longest permanent circuit on the FIA WEC calendar, measuring 7.004 kilometers.
Proton Competition targets repeat performance with Jani, Pino, and Varrone
In the top Hypercar class, Porsche customer team Proton Competition fields another Porsche 963 with drivers Neel Jani, Nico Pino, and Nico Varrone. The Swiss trio aims to replicate their successful 2024 season, where they spent much of the Spa race in the lead and had a realistic shot at the podium.
Neel Jani shared his hopes for the upcoming race: "We’re returning to Spa with very fond memories. Last year was our best race by far. We spent a lot of time in the lead and had a realistic chance of finishing on the podium. Unfortunately, the red flag thwarted our plans. Fifth place was still a decent result, and we’d like to repeat that."
Manthey targets next triumph after Imola
In the LMGT3 class, the Manthey 1st Phorm customer team travels to round three of the FIA WEC season with high expectations after winning the class in Italy. The squad from Germany’s Eifel region will be represented by factory driver Richard Lietz, Ryan Hardwick, and Riccardo Pera in the No. 92 Porsche 911 GT3 R. Meanwhile, Iron Dames will field Rahel Frey, Michelle Gatting, and Célia Martin in an identical 911 GT3 R.
Riccardo Pera expressed his excitement for the upcoming race: "To win our class at the previous world championship race in Imola gave us a huge boost – especially for me because winning a home race is a dream come true. We’re now heading to Spa-Francorchamps, which is one of the most beautiful circuits in the world, so we’re very excited. We aim to continue our top form there."
Pro tip: To maximize your racing experience at Spa-Francorchamps, consider visiting the iconicpub "La Source" or grabbing a bite at "Chez Ginger" – both offer fantastic views of the circuit.
Porsche racers share their thoughts on Spa-Francorchamps
| Driver | Quote ází |
|---|---|
| Julien Andlauer (Porsche 963 #5) | "I’m particularly fond of the Spa-Francorchamps racetrack. I did well there last year in the Proton Competition’s Porsche 963. I hope to be as fast in Porsche Penske Motorsport’s factory car this season. We’re determined to be in the running for podium finishes." |
| Laurens Vanthoor (Porsche 963 #6) | "As my home race, Spa is one of my favourites on the calendar. After our disappointments in Qatar and Imola, we’re determined to fight back. The race in Belgium is critical because it’s considered a dress rehearsal for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. We’re expecting more attention, more fans, and more action but once the race gets underway, it’ll be like any other. Let’s see what we can achieve." |
| Neel Jani (Porsche 963 #99) | "We’re returning to Spa with very fond memories. Last year was our best race by far. We spent a lot of time in the lead and had a realistic chance of finishing on the podium. Unfortunately, the red flag thwarted our plans. Fifth place was still a decent result, and we’d like to repeat that." |
| Célia Martin (Porsche 911 GT3 R #85) | "We scored our first world championship points in Imola, which was a noticeable improvement on the first race of the season. The fact that our sister car won gives us even more of a boost. We’re still in the phase where everything needs to align but we now have a much better idea of our individual strengths. Imola was well suited to the Porsche 911 GT3 R. While Spa-Francorchamps is significantly different, we’re still aiming for a good result." |
| Riccardo Pera (Porsche 911 GT3 R #92) | "To win our class at the previous world championship race in Imola gave us a huge boost – especially for me because winning a home race is a dream come true. We’re now heading to Spa-Francorchamps, which is one of the most beautiful circuits in the world, so we’re very excited. We aim to continue our top form there." |
Race schedule (all times CEST)
- Thursday, 8 May
- 11:30 – 13:00 hrs: Free practice 1
- 16:30 – 18:00 hrs: Free practice 2
- Friday, 9 May
- 11:00 – 12:00 hrs: Free practice 3
- 14:40 – 14:55 hrs: Qualifying LMGT3
- 15:03 – 15:15 hrs: Hyperpole LMGT3
- 15:25 – 15:40 hrs: Qualifying Hypercar
- 15:48 – 16:00 hrs: Hyperpole Hypercar
- Saturday, 10 May
- 14:00 – 20:00 hrs: Race 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps
FAQs
-
Who are the drivers in the Porsche Penske Motorsport team for the Spa round?
- No. 5: Julien Andlauer (FRA), Michael Christensen (DNK), Nico Müller (SUI)
- No. 6: Kévin Estre (FRA), Laurens Vanthoor (BEL), Pascal Wehrlein (DEU)
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Which Porsche customer team is also competing in the Hypercar class?
- Proton Competition (#99: Neel Jani (SUI), Nico Pino (CHL), Nico Varrone (ARG))
- What classes are the Porsche teams competing in at Spa-Francorchamps?
- Hypercar class (Porsche 963)
- LMGT3 class (Porsche 911 GT3 R)