Pascal Wehrlein could possibly be within the operating for a manufacturing facility drive with Porsche in subsequent 12 months’s Le Mans 24 Hours after a shock look in final week’s Daytona take a look at.
Whereas Porsche Penske Motorsport has already introduced the motive force pairings for its two manufacturing facility 963 LMDh automobiles within the 2025 World Endurance Championship, there will likely be one vacant seat obtainable in its Le Mans line-up if it decides to subject an extra entry.
4-time Method 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel has been repeatedly linked to a 3rd Porsche entry at Le Mans, having examined the automobile earlier this 12 months.
However final weekend, manufacturing facility Porsche driver and former Method E champion Wehrlein made an surprising go to to the Daytona Worldwide Speedway, driving the Porsche 963 of buyer squad JDC-Miller within the official IMSA-sanctioned take a look at.
That provides a potential indication that Wehrlein, and never fellow German Vettel, may get the nod to drive for Porsche within the 93rd operating of Le Mans.
Final month, Porsche motorsport boss Thomas Laudenbach stated “it’s extra doubtless we are going to run three automobiles” at Le Mans subsequent 12 months after securing an extra entry for WEC’s centrepiece occasion by profitable the GTP title within the IMSA SportsCar Championship.
Porsche presently has eight prototype drivers in its manufacturing facility roster throughout WEC and IMSA for the 2025 season, down from 10 this 12 months. With three drivers required in every automobile, that leaves one emptiness in its squad for a three-car assault.
Urs Kuratle, the challenge driver at LMDh, admitted that an additional driver could be wanted ought to Porsche go forward with its plan to subject a 3rd automobile.
He didn’t rule out Vettel being a contender for the seat and even confirmed to have held talks with him. However whereas the 37-year-old has primarily accomplished demo runs since his exit from F1 with Aston Martin on the finish of 2022, Wehrlein is presently within the prime of his profession.
#85: JDC-Miller MotorSports, Porsche 963, GTP: Tijmen van der Helm, Oliver Grey, Gianmaria Bruni, Pascal Wehrlein, Chris Miller
Picture by: IMSA
Not like Vettel, the 30-year-old, after all, is already a manufacturing facility driver for Porsche in FE and examined the automobile whereas it was nonetheless being developed in 2022.
In actual fact, Wehrlein was a contender for a full season within the WEC upon Porsche’s return to the highest echelon of sportscar racing in 2023. The German producer finally signed Frederic Makowiecki to finish its line-up within the Hypercar class.
Makowiecki, Andre Lotterer and Dane Cameron have all been dropped from Porsche’s LMDh line-ups in 2025, whereas Julien Andlauer has acquired a manufacturing facility contract after a season spent racing for the client Proton Competitors staff within the WEC.
No clashes with Method E
What is going to occur subsequent with Wehrlein’s Hypercar ambitions stays unclear, however a participation within the Daytona 24 Hours in JDC-Miller Porsche could be apparent after the take a look at.
There isn’t any conflict between the Method E calendar and the IMSA season opener, which is scheduled for 27-28 January, and the ‘Roar Earlier than The 24’ take a look at that precedes the enduro.
Wehrlein additionally has no clashing Method E commitments on the Le Mans take a look at day, which is able to happen on 8 June, and Le Mans itself, which will likely be held on 11-15 June.
As well as, a begin within the IMSA basic in Sebring (15 March) would even be potential, serving as preparation for the blue-riband WEC spherical.
With potential race appearances after final week’s take a look at, Wehrlein may proceed to study the Porsche 963 after which assist the manufacturing facility staff at Le Mans – the FE schedule wouldn’t stand in the way in which of his Le Sarthe debut. However that will imply the door to the manufacturing facility staff within the 24-hour enduro could be closed for his countryman Vettel.
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