The off-season brought significant changes to Porsche Penske Motorsport, as the team restructured its driver roster across the IMSA WeatherTech Championship and FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). By reducing the number of drivers per car for endurance events from four to three, Porsche is looking to optimize performance while maintaining consistency across its programs.
This shift required tough decisions, including releasing established Porsche works drivers such as Andre Lotterer, Frederic Makowiecki, and Dane Cameron. However, Porsche Motorsport’s Director of Factory Racing, Urs Kuratle, believes the new arrangement will yield benefits not just for Daytona but throughout the season.
A Unified Approach to Endurance Racing
Kuratle emphasized the strategic reasoning behind the decision:
“We have a lot of very skilled drivers in the program. The goal was to utilize all available talent across both the IMSA and WEC programs. We probably have the best driver line-up in the paddock here, and we’ll take the best result of it.”
The change splits long-standing driver pairings, such as Mathieu Jaminet and Nick Tandy, who were instrumental in the team’s success over the past two years. Jaminet is now paired with Matt Campbell in the No.6 car, while Tandy joins reigning IMSA GTP Champion Felipe Nasr in the No.7.
The revised line-ups will compete in overlapping series, with Campbell and Jaminet taking part in WEC events that don’t clash with IMSA’s schedule. This integrated strategy reflects Porsche’s desire to maximize resources and expertise.
Streamlined Rotations for the Rolex 24 At Daytona
With three drivers per car, the team anticipates a more rigid rotation system during endurance races like the Rolex 24 At Daytona. According to Jonathan Diuguid, Porsche Penske Motorsport’s Managing Director, this approach simplifies race planning while ensuring equitable workloads:
“Our driver rotation will be pretty fixed before the race unless something massively changes. All three guys in each car are performing on quite a similar level, so there’s really no negatives to that approach.”
Despite a pre-set rotation, flexibility remains essential for race-ending strategies. Diuguid highlighted how lessons learned from Felipe Nasr’s standout performance in the final hours of the 2024 Daytona event would influence decisions this year.
Key Additions and Support Roles
The revamped line-up includes Kevin Estre and Laurens Vanthoor, both reigning FIA Hypercar Endurance champions. All six drivers across Porsche Penske’s two IMSA entries are expected to shoulder comparable workloads, reducing the dependence on any single driver during critical phases.
Notably, while Porsche hasn’t officially designated a reserve driver for Daytona, Julien Andlauer—a recent addition to the WEC team—could step in if required. Andlauer is already competing in the Proton Competition No.5 Porsche, making him a readily available option.
Looking Ahead: Optimism and Confidence
The changes at Porsche Penske Motorsport signal a bold move to consolidate talent and resources. While challenges remain, Kuratle and Diuguid are confident the revised driver structure will enhance the team’s performance.
“We’ll use the first 18 hours to assess performance, but at the end of the day, it’s going to come down to a dogfight,” Diuguid noted. “We’ll make whatever decisions we need to ensure the best opportunity to win.”
The team’s revamped approach will be put to the test at the 2025 Rolex 24 At Daytona, where Porsche Penske Motorsport aims to secure another standout performance and build momentum for a competitive season across both IMSA and WEC championships.