Pascal Wehrlein might be within the operating for a manufacturing unit drive with Porsche in subsequent 12 months’s Le Mans 24 Hours after a shock look in final week’s Daytona check.
Whereas Porsche Penske Motorsport has already introduced the motive force pairings for its two manufacturing unit 963 LMDh vehicles within the 2025 World Endurance Championship, there can be one vacant seat accessible in its Le Mans line-up if it decides to subject an extra entry.
4-time System 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel has been repeatedly linked to a 3rd Porsche entry at Le Mans, having examined the automotive earlier this 12 months.
However final weekend, manufacturing unit Porsche driver and former System 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 check.
That provides a potential indication that Wehrlein, and never fellow German Vettel, might 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 seemingly we’ll run three vehicles” 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 unit roster throughout WEC and IMSA for the 2025 season, down from 10 this 12 months. With three drivers required in every automotive, 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 automotive.
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
In contrast to Vettel, the 30-year-old, after all, is already a manufacturing unit driver for Porsche in FE and examined the automotive whereas it was nonetheless being developed in 2022.
Actually, 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 ultimately 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 unit contract after a season spent racing for the shopper Proton Competitors group within the WEC.
No clashes with System 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 check.
There isn’t a conflict between the System E calendar and the IMSA season opener, which is scheduled for 27-28 January, and the ‘Roar Earlier than The 24’ check that precedes the enduro.
Wehrlein additionally has no clashing System E commitments on the Le Mans check day, which can happen on 8 June, and Le Mans itself, which can be held on 11-15 June.
As well as, a begin within the IMSA traditional 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 check, Wehrlein might proceed to be taught the Porsche 963 after which assist the manufacturing unit group at Le Mans – the FE schedule wouldn’t stand in the best way of his Le Sarthe debut. However that will imply the door to the manufacturing unit group within the 24-hour enduro could be closed for his countryman Vettel.
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