After extensive testing by Porsche’s Project team for GT racing cars, Porsche will debut the new 911 GT3 Cup race car in 2021. This first race car based on the 992 generation Porsche 911 was tested on multiple tracks, with many drivers, and with race simulation for serviceability in the pits by the teams.
Porsche also announced that they will participate in the WEC at Daytona and IMSA Weathertech SportsCar series with a NEW prototype race car for the LMDH (Le Mans Daytona Hybrid) class, and will compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans with no changes to the car. This helps both the manufacturer and team sponsors’ budgets.
Porsche’s Pascal Zurlindon, Head of Factory Motorsport, confirms, saying, “[Porsche] is intending to run in both championships with a full commitment! This LMDH concept allows Porsche to continue to showcase the brands’ DNA which is going endurance racing. We can contest both championships and the biggest endurance races in the world with our cars.”
The car is based on an upgraded LMP2 chassis with specifications for a hybrid system including the electronics, standardized. Chassis from four different manufacturers are available, with each brand able to select their combustion engine and body design within the regulations. The chassis looks like a merge of Formula E and Porsche 911 GT and reflects the Brands’ electric, hybrid, pure combustion-engine cars for the world. Look for additional information as it becomes available.
Unfortunately, it looks as though this won’t happen until 2023. For now, we have the Porsche customer teams in the IMSA Weathertech SportsCar championship in the GTD class for 2021.
Wright Motorsports will be back for a full season with Patrick Long, Ryan Hardwick, and Jan Heylen after Jan took pole position, his first. With their car set-up, they won the Sebring 12 Hours in November in their Porsche 911 GT3 R. Unfortunately, they lost the GTD championship by two points, but with their consistent progress and success in 2020, you will have to watch this team in 2021.
Pfaff Motorsports, the infamous PLAID Canadian Porsche team, will come back to the IMSA GTD class, again with Zach Robichon. With COVID 19 restrictions the team only competed in 2 races in 2020.
In 2021, Porsche factory driver Laurens Vanthoor will join the team for the full season. Laurens is anxious to be back in IMSA as he likes driving in the IMSA series in the United States. Also along for the endurance races will be Porsche development driver, Lars Kern and Porsche factory driver Matt Campbell for the 24 Hours of Daytona. Lars Kern was the Porsche driver the drove the Panamera Turbo S 4 door and set the lap record for the Production cars “Executive car” category at the Nurburing this year.
Porsche Factory driver Earl Bamber is set to drive for the Hardpoint team in a Porsche. Hardpoint will give up their 2020 Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO as Earl Bamber’s brother Will had taken up the position of Team Manager mid-season and obviously changed to the Porsche 911 GT3 R. Now Earl Bamber Motorsports has an alliance with Hardpoint and will have two cars in the Porsche Carrera Cup North America series in 2021.
Rob Ferriol, team owner then and long time PC member and previously contested IMSA’s Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA which Bamber was his driver coach. Rob said,”Hopefully, Earl and I can give those very passionate fans another Porsche to root for next year!”
This month Porsche Experience Atlanta celebrated its 5th anniversary with a virtual celebration emceed by Patrick Long along. They announced that they would be doing a multi-million dollar expansion of the facility. They are going to add 33 acres to the existing 27 acres over the next three years, starting with a Porsche Service Center and then a parking structure. After that, an expansion of the Restoration Department will follow, as well as extending the track. I will be happy to test that expansion out when it is finished. More track equals more speed and more fun!
For now, Happy New Year and please wear your mask and social distance so that we can meet up again soon!
Walt
