Despite Thomas Laudenbach, Vice-President of Porsche Motorsport, trying to maintain ambiguity about the third 963 entry for Porsche Penske Motorsport in the Le Mans 24 Hours, it is fairly certain that the team will field three cars in the event set to take place on June 15-16. This conjecture is corroborated by Porsche Penske Motorsport’s successful stint in the IMSA SportsCar Championship last year, which bagged them an invitation to the prestigious race.
In the driver’s seat for the third car will be the dynamic duo of Nick Tandy and Felipe Nasr, who claimed victory at the Daytona 24 Hours in late January as the full-time pairing in the team’s #7 IMSA entry. Laudenbach is confident that they will find a suitable third driver, citing the wealth of talent available, including Formula E drivers and seasoned GT drivers.
The previous occupant of the extra seat, Mathieu Jaminet, has moved to car #5, leaving a spot open for speculation. While the official decision is yet to be made, insiders suggest a favourite is beginning to emerge.
Former F1 world champion Sebastian Vettel, who had previously expressed keen interest in competing in the Le Mans 24 Hours, and even tested the 963 at MotorLand Aragon last March, seems to be out of contention. His brief test sessions with the car and his last race outing at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in November 2022, appear insufficient to make him a compelling choice for a team focused on winning.
Among Porsche’s official drivers, Nico Mueller and Antonio Felix da Costa were considered strong contenders a few weeks ago. However, since Mueller’s preparatory plan with Proton Racing’s 963 for Daytona fell through, his chances seem to have dwindled.
Da Costa, on the other hand, seems like an ideal fit. He has had six Le Mans 24 Hours experiences under his belt and has proven his mettle in endurance racing. Despite having been prevented from participating in the WEC in 2024 to concentrate on Formula E, his recent performance at Daytona last month in Inter Europol Competition’s Oreca 07 demonstrated he still has what it takes.
Pascal Wehrlein seems to be leading the race for the coveted Porsche seat. His debut in endurance racing at the Daytona 24 Hours in JDC-Miller’s privateer 963, despite not being particularly extraordinary, was commendable. Wehrlein, a former F1 driver and a Formula E champion, has openly expressed his desire to participate in the Le Mans 24 Hours.
However, balancing the demands of the Le Mans 24 Hours with the commitments of the Formula E season could pose a significant challenge. Florian Modlinger, Porsche’s director of factory motorsport in Formula E, emphasized the necessity of prioritizing the Formula E project over single races.
Given the close proximity of the Formula E races in Shanghai (May 31 – June 1) and Jakarta (June 21) to the Le Mans fortnight, farming out either da Costa or Wehrlein could potentially jeopardize Porsche’s Formula E campaign. This conundrum could potentially lead to a shift in strategy within Porsche, focusing exclusively on Formula E.
While the official decision is still pending, the racing world awaits with bated breath to see who will claim the third seat in Porsche’s Le Mans 24 Hours entry.
