Porsche Faces Challenges in FIA World Endurance Championship…

Defending champions Porsche faced a disappointing start to the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship at the Qatar 1812km, with both their vehicles failing to secure top ten qualifying positions. Issues such as punctures and technical problems hindered their race performance, resulting in 10th and 11th place finishes. The team expresses hope for improvement in the upcoming race at Imola.

In a frustrating start for defending champions Porsche at the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship, the team failed to secure any positions in the top ten during the Qatar 1812km qualifying, marking a stark contrast to the previous year’s success. Julien Andlauer qualified the 5 hybrid prototype in 11th place, narrowly missing Hyperpole, while reigning champion Kévin Estre secured 13th in the 6 entry. The race also presented several challenges for the Porsche team.

The race began with complications as Andlauer experienced a damaged tyre, necessitating an early pit stop, which relegated the car and its drivers, Mathieu Jaminet and Michael Christensen, to 18th position in the Hypercar class. An early safety car allowed the team to temporarily climb to third place but further issues, including another tyre problem and a rear axle problem, ultimately resulted in a lapped finish in 10th place.

Reflecting on the challenging conditions, Christensen described it as “an exhausting, sometimes really difficult race” and noted concerns about tyre and brake wear. The 6 car, driven by Estre, Laurens Vanthoor, and Matt Campbell, finished in 11th, also facing setbacks, specifically a collision that required a rear wing replacement during the first pit stop.

Porsche Penske Motorsport is looking ahead to the next race at the 6 Hours of Imola, scheduled for April 18-20, where they hope to improve their performance. Urs Kuratle, Porsche Factory Motorsport LMDh Director, acknowledged the difficulties faced during the race, emphasizing that while the team was not without fault, they performed well overall considering the circumstances.

Jonathan Diuguid, Managing Director of Porsche Penske Motorsport, expressed disappointment at only scoring two points, stating, “We feel like we deserved more.” He noted that despite various setbacks, the team was running at a competitive pace and plans to enhance performance for the upcoming Imola race.

In summary, Porsche’s performance at the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship curtain-raiser was disappointing, with neither of its vehicles finishing in the top positions due to various technical difficulties and challenging race conditions. Despite these setbacks, the team remains optimistic about improving their performance in the next event, acknowledging that they deserved better results than what they achieved in Qatar. Their focus now shifts to preparing for the next race in Imola, where they aim to reclaim their competitive edge.

Original Source: www.fiawec.com