Porsche Motorsport Hunting For Daytona Victory
Nine Porsche Entries Gear Up for the Endurance Classic
Porsche Motorsport is poised for a triumphant performance at the 2024 24 Hours of Daytona, the opening round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Armed with two Porsche 963s and an elite driver lineup, the team is determined to clinch their 19th outright victory at this prestigious event.
"We're considerably better prepared this year," asserts Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President of Porsche Motorsport. "Our goal is to start our championship bid with a strong race at Daytona."
The 2024 season opener, scheduled for January 27-28 in Florida, sees Porsche entering nine cars, including two hybrid prototypes developed with significant improvements over the previous year. "Last year's endurance races were challenging," reflects Urs Kuratle, Director of Factory Motorsport LMDh. "We've focused on reliability and endurance, and I'm confident in our preparations."
Jonathan Diuguid, Managing Director of Porsche Penske Motorsport, shares the sentiment. "We've made operational changes and improved the car," he says. "We are prepared for the challenge of Daytona 24 Hours."
An impressive lineup will drive the two factory-entered Porsche 963s. Car #6 hosts the UK's Nick Tandy, France's Mathieu Jaminet, Belgium's Laurens Vanthoor, and France's Kévin Estre. Car #7 features Brazil's Felipe Nasr, Dane Cameron of the USA, American IndyCar star Josef Newgarden, and Australia's Matt Cameron.
Customer teams JDC-Miller MotorSports and Proton Competition will also field a Porsche 963 each in the top GTP class. Proton's car is shared by Gianmaria Bruni, Romain Dumas, Alessio Picariello, and Switzerland's Neel Jani. The JDC-Miller MotorSports' entry includes Tijmen van der Helm, UK's seasoned driver Richard Westbrook, Englishman Phil Hanson, and American amateur driver Ben Keating.
In the GT classes, Porsche is represented by five customer squads, each racing a Porsche 911 GT3 R. AO Racing's car will be driven by Germany's Laurin Heinrich, British driver Sebastian Priaulx, and Dane Michael Christensen. Wright Motorsports features the #120 car driven by Frenchman Frédéric Makowiecki.
Drivers are equally enthusiastic about their prospects. "After last year, we have a score to settle," says Mathieu Jaminet of Porsche 963 #6. Felipe Nasr from the #7 car adds, "With a year's experience, we're in a much better position, especially in terms of reliability."
The 24-hour race at Daytona, renowned for its steeply banked turns and challenging conditions, has been a Porsche stronghold, with the manufacturer achieving 18 overall wins and numerous class victories. This year, Porsche aims to add another triumph to its impressive record at Daytona.
In conclusion, Porsche's comprehensive lineup for the 24 Hours of Daytona, bolstered by experienced drivers and a focus on reliability and performance, sets the stage for a highly competitive and potentially victorious race.