Pascal Wehrlein may very well be within the working for a manufacturing unit drive with Porsche in subsequent yr’s Le Mans 24 Hours after a shock look in final week’s Daytona check.
Whereas Porsche Penske Motorsport has already introduced the driving force pairings for its two manufacturing unit 963 LMDh vehicles within the 2025 World Endurance Championship, there can be one vacant seat out there in its Le Mans line-up if it decides to discipline an extra entry.
4-time Formulation 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel has been repeatedly linked to a 3rd Porsche entry at Le Mans, having examined the automotive earlier this yr.
However final weekend, manufacturing unit Porsche driver and former Formulation 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 offers a potential indication that Wehrlein, and never fellow German Vettel, may get the nod to drive for Porsche within the 93rd working of Le Mans.
Final month, Porsche motorsport boss Thomas Laudenbach mentioned “it’s extra seemingly we are going to run three vehicles” at Le Mans subsequent yr after securing an extra entry for WEC’s centrepiece occasion by successful the GTP title within the IMSA SportsCar Championship.
Porsche at present has eight prototype drivers in its manufacturing unit roster throughout WEC and IMSA for the 2025 season, down from 10 this yr. With three drivers required in every automotive, that leaves one emptiness in its squad for a three-car assault.
Urs Kuratle, the venture driver at LMDh, admitted that an additional driver can be wanted ought to Porsche go forward with its plan to discipline 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 at present 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 unit driver for Porsche in FE and examined the automotive whereas it was nonetheless being developed in 2022.
The truth is, 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 obtained a manufacturing unit contract after a season spent racing for the client Proton Competitors workforce within the WEC.
No clashes with Formulation E
What’s going to occur subsequent with Wehrlein’s Hypercar ambitions stays unclear, however a participation within the Daytona 24 Hours in JDC-Miller Porsche can be apparent after the check.
There isn’t any conflict between the Formulation 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 Formulation E commitments on the Le Mans check day, which is able to 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 may proceed to be taught the Porsche 963 after which help the manufacturing unit workforce at Le Mans – the FE schedule wouldn’t stand in the way in which of his Le Sarthe debut. However that may imply the door to the manufacturing unit workforce within the 24-hour enduro can be closed for his countryman Vettel.
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