Porsche Penske Motorsport confirmed a change to its lineup plans for the 2027 season within the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, with Laurin Heinrich taking up a full-time seat of one of many group’s manufacturing facility Porsche 963s whereas Laurens Vanthoor will solely contest the endurance rounds.
Heinrich, 24, is contemporary off a stellar efficiency final Sunday at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, the place he pulled off a livid cost full with a last-lap go to provide JDC-Miller MotorSports the victory, marking the primary Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) win for a privateer within the sequence.
The German, who additionally took victories an an endurance-add on within the #7 PPM Porsche 963 alongside Julien Andlaure and Felipe Nasr at Daytona and Sebring to start out the yr, at the moment leads the championship standings. The possibility for Heinrich to stay there’s unsure, although, as he’ll miss the endurance spherical at Watkins Glen on account of a category with the 24 Hours of Spa.
“Porsche has performed a elementary position in my racing profession proper from the beginning,” Heinrich mentioned.
”I due to this fact really feel a powerful connection to the corporate and am delighted to be competing for the IMSA title with Porsche Penske Motorsport in 2027.”
Laurin Heinrich, #5 JDC-Miller MotorSports at Laguna Seca
Photograph by: Porsche Motorsport
In the meantime, subsequent yr’s diminished position for Vanthoor, who at the moment co-drives alongside Kevin Estre within the #6 Porsche 963, is a welcomed one for the Belgian. Moreover, Vanthoor can also be anticipated to be introduced quickly as a part of McLaren’s Hypercar program within the FIA World Endurance Championship subsequent yr.
“My journey as a Porsche manufacturing facility driver has introduced me great success over the previous ten years, and I’m very grateful for that,” mentioned Vanthoor, 34. “Collectively, we need to win extra trophies and titles. “Nonetheless, I personally have an enormous dream that I wish to pursue.
“On the identical time, I’m very pleased for Laurin Heinrich that he will probably be becoming a member of the everlasting IMSA roster at Porsche Penske Motorsport in 2027. He completely deserves this chance.”
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