Entering the final round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, Porsche is poised to clinch the manufacturer, team and driver titles in the all-factory GTLM class. The North American factory team of the German sports car manufacturer tackles the 22nd Running Motul Petit Le Mans on Saturday, October 12 holding a clear lead in all class categories. To celebrate the conclusion of the 50th Anniversary season of the International Motor Sport Association (IMSA), the pair of race cars will wear the “hometown jersey” for Porsche Cars North America (PCNA) at their local race track in Braselton, Georgia. The Nos. 911 and 912 factory cars will carry the red and white colors of a close neighbor, Atlanta-based Coca-Cola, a tribute to the popular 1980s livery campaigned by longtime Porsche privateer Bob Akin Motor Racing. In addition to the factory effort, Pfaff Motorsports will field a Porsche 911 GT3 R in the GTD category at Road Atlanta. The Canadian customer team earned the first 2019 title for Porsche, the WeatherTech Sprint Cup, at the most recent race.
To win the IMSA GTLM manufacturers’ championship, only one of the two Porsche 911 RSR race cars needs to roll from the multi-class grid to acquire the necessary points. However, the fight for the GTLM drivers’ classification goes down to the wire between the Porsche works driver pairings of Earl Bamber (New Zealand) and Laurens Vanthoor (Belgium) in the No. 912 car and their colleagues in the No. 911 vehicle, Patrick Pilet (France) and Nick Tandy (Great Britain).
The ten-hour race on the 2.54-mile (4.088-kilometer) circuit marks the conclusion of IMSA’s 50th anniversary season. The storied racetrack on the outskirts of Atlanta is a favorite among drivers. The aptly named “Esses” (turns two to five) are particularly challenging on the high-speed circuit. Courage and utmost precision combined with a perfect car setup are required through this high-speed section. In 21 years, Porsche has secured a record 20 class wins at Petit Le Mans. In 2015, the factory team had an unprecedented overall victory bettering not only its GTLM class competitors but all prototypes in the rain-soaked race, while securing three class championships. In 2018, Porsche claimed victory in the fiercely competitive GTLM class flying the historic colors of Mobil 1. Petit Le Mans is also the final round of the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup (IMEC). In this championship within a championship, which includes the endurance races at Daytona (24-hours in length), Sebring (12-hours), Watkins Glen (six-hours) and Road Atlanta (10-hours), the Porsche GT Team is currently first and second in the standings. The No. 911 has secured to two victories (the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring in Florida and the Sahlen’s Six Hours at The Glen in New York).
Regular drivers Patrick Pilet (France) and Nick Tandy (Great Britain) join forces with their works driver teammate Frédéric Makowiecki in the No. 911 Porsche 911 RSR in defense of their 2018 “Petit” class win. This trio won at Sebring, Watkins Glen and VIRginia International Raceway (VIR) earlier this season. Pilet and Tandy, along with Richard Lietz (Austria), also combined for the 2015 Petit Le Mans victory. Pilet/Tandy currently rank second in the full season drivers’ classification. Their works driver colleagues in the No. 912 sister car, Earl Bamber (New Zealand) and Laurens Vanthoor (Belgium), lead the class with a twelve-point advantage after victories at Long Beach, Mid-Ohio and Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. The pair shares driving duties in the ca. 510 hp 911 RSR with Porsche Young Professional Mathieu Jaminet (France) at Petit Le Mans.
With its successor debuting at the 2020 Rolex 24 At Daytona in January, the 10-hour Petit Le Mans marks the last outing for the two Porsche 911 RSR (2017 model year) with the Porsche GT Team factory program. Since debuting in the IMSA WeatherTech Championship, the Porsche 911 RSR (MY 2017) has won ten times entering its final race. The most recent victory came with the No. 911 at VIR on August 25.
In the GTD class, the customer squad Pfaff Motorsports again relies on the services of Porsche development driver Lars Kern (Germany) for the ten-hour finale. The two Canadians, Zacharie Robichon and Scott Hargrove, join the seasoned German in the cockpit of the No. 9 Porsche 911 GT3 R. Hargrove is a Porsche Selected Driver. Robichon took home an early title in the Sprint Cup at the previous IMSA round at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca to secure the first 2019 IMSA title for Porsche. The Porsche 911 GT3 R fielded by the Canadian team will contest the event decked out in a special blue and yellow livery.
The Petit Le Mans will take the green flag on Saturday, October 12 at 12:05 p.m. ET. Check local listings for the NBC family of stations covering the race live. IMSA Radio coverage of the race – as well as in-car coverage from both the factory Porsche 911 RSR race cars – can be found at www.IMSA.com and also on SiriusXM
Fritz Enzinger, Vice President Motorsport.
“We are eager to make the final race of the IMSA season a huge celebration for the fans, for Porsche and for our partner Coca-Cola. Last year we won the Petit Le Mans with our Porsche 911 RSR finished in a historic design. That’s our goal again this year. It’ll be the last factory outing for this version of the Porsche 911 RSR. It would be fantastic if we were able to again experience the vehicle in the center of the winner’s ceremony at Road Atlanta.”
Pascal Zurlinden, Director Factory Motorsport.
“The Porsche 911 RSR has given us countless wins since 2017. We’ve won the world championship with this car, and we also won Le Mans and Sebring, among others. It would be a dream come true if we could add further titles at Road Atlanta and repeat last year’s win at this storied racetrack. Our success at the 2018 Petit Le Mans underlined that we’ll be well prepared when we tackle the tough competition of the ten-hour race. We are keen to round out our impressive season in North America with another highlight.”
Steffen Höllwarth, Head of Operations IMSA Championship.
“With Petit Le Mans we have a real classic to conclude the season. Road Atlanta has been the venue of major Porsche successes. We have fond memories of our overall win in 2015 and our success last year. The circuit and the Porsche 911 RSR match perfectly. Our aim for the finale is clear: At the end of this year we want to finish first in all championship classifications.”
Parick Pilet, Driver, No. 911 Porsche GT Team Porsche 911 RSR.
“Petit Le Mans will be the grand finale of a sensational year for Porsche. We hold a convincing lead in the manufacturers’ championship. In the drivers’ championship, Nick and I still have a small chance in the duel against our colleagues. Our aim is to finish first with our beautiful Porsche 911 RSR decked out in the Coca-Cola livery. If we succeed in doing this, we just might clinch the drivers’ title.”
Nick Tandy, Driver, No. 911 Porsche GT Team Porsche 911 RSR.
“I’m always really excited to go racing at Road Atlanta. The spectacular circuit and the Petit Le Mans event have a very special place in my heart. Our Porsche 911 RSR has always been fast there. Moreover, at the IMSA endurance races we always profit from our strengths as a team. I’m hoping for a great result at the last race of an outstanding season.”
Frédéric Makowiecki, Driver, No. 911 Porsche GT Team Porsche 911 RSR.
“Once again our Porsche 911 RSR will compete in a striking livery. Not only does it look great, it could also be a good omen for us. In 2018 we won in the Mobil 1 colors. We’re eager to repeat this feat in Coca-Cola livery this year – especially since this will be the last factory outing of the 2017-spec 911 RSR. For the swansong of its outstanding career, this car deserves another victory.”
Earl Bamber, Driver, No. 912 Porsche GT Team Porsche 911 RSR.
“An impressive year in the North American IMSA series comes to an end. At the final round we want to ensure that as many titles as possible go to Porsche. This is the big goal. What’s more, Laurens and I have personal ambitions, of course. We want to claim the drivers’ championship. This certainly won’t be easy. I’m very much looking forward to the race. Just being able to drive for Porsche is great, but to race a Porsche 911 RSR flying the Coca-Cola colors is simply sensational. The car is beautifully finished – and it’ll certainly be fast at Road Atlanta as well.”
Laurens Vanthoor, Driver, No. 912 Porsche GT Team Porsche 911 RSR.
“We head into the last race of the season holding a solid points’ advantage in the drivers’ championship. For this reason we can tackle the race in a controlled offensive manner. Our colleagues are under a bit more pressure, because Nick and Patrick have to win to stay in the fight. If Earl and I achieve a decent result we should make it. At the same time it’s important to secure the top spots in the manufacturers’ and the team championships. Obviously, the best scenario would be to celebrate the championship titles together with a race win.”
Mathieu Jaminet, Driver, No. 912 Porsche GT Team Porsche 911 RSR.
“I’m very pleased that I get the chance to drive the Porsche 911 RSR again at the final round of the IMSA season. Until now all the races were exciting and very educational for me. The focus at Road Atlanta is to claim the championship. I will do my utmost to ensure that Earl and Laurens finish in first-place and that the entire Porsche GT Team can celebrate with a big party on Saturday evening after the race.”
Lars Kern, Driver, No. 9 Pfaff Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R.
“I’m really looking forward to my next race outing in Pfaff Motorsports’ 911 GT3 R. I’ve come to know the team well, and we work together brilliantly. My colleague Zacharie has celebrated a great success by winning the Sprint Cup. Now we’re eager to see the team finish its first season in the North American series with a top result at Road Atlanta.”
