The motorsport world is buzzing as reigning FIA Formula E World Champion, Pascal Wehrlein, sets his sights on the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans. The 30-year-old racing pro is set to make his debut in the Hypercar category, joining the third factory 963 Hypercar entrant in the 93rd edition of the iconic race.
Partnering with Wehrlein in the #4 Porsche Penske 963 will be the formidable duo of IMSA drivers and defending GTP champions, Nick Tandy and Felipe Nasr. Nasr and Tandy are no strangers to endurance racing, having recently clinched victory at the 12 Hours of Sebring. They will be joining the FIA World Endurance Championship entrants, the #5 and #6 Porsches.
Facing the challenge with enthusiasm, Wehrlein shared, “Joining Porsche Penske Motorsport for Le Mans is a realization of a dream. The experience of sharing the Porsche 963, which would typically be tailored to my specifications in Formula E, is a unique challenge. This includes everything from the seating position to the setup, strategy, and beyond. I am determined to add more titles to my Formula E World Championship victory, but my focus is to contribute to the team and learn as much as possible. It’s an honor to be a part of Porsche’s legendary motorsport heritage.”
Wehrlein has already proven his mettle, having driven with the Porsche customer team JDC Miller MotorSports at Daytona where Porsche Penske claimed victory. His Formula E teammate, Antonio Felix da Costa, will be competing in the LMP2 category, although Porsche has yet to reveal which of the 17 Oreca 07 LMP2s he’ll be driving. Da Costa, who had previously competed at Daytona for Inter Europol Competition, is making a return to Le Mans since his 2023 stint when his team won the iconic Centenary Le Mans race.
Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President Porsche Motorsport, expressed his confidence in the team, stating, “Our driver lineup is absolutely first-rate and incredibly deep. Utilizing our top-notch Formula E factory team for the third Porsche Penske Motorsport entry at Le Mans is a logical decision. Wehrlein has demonstrated his prowess in testing and his performance at the 24 Hours of Daytona. As the reigning Formula E World Champion, he fully deserves his Le Mans debut in a Porsche 963. Da Costa, on his seventh start in France, will undoubtedly be among the fastest LMP2 drivers once again.”
This summer, Porsche aims to add to their impressive tally of 19 outright wins at Le Mans, the highest by any manufacturer. As the motorsport community anticipates the forthcoming Le Mans 24 Hours, the key question remains: Will Wehrlein’s debut at Le Mans add another feather to Porsche’s already well-adorned cap? Only time will tell.