Porsche will tackle the 57th Running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona fielding factory a pair of 911 RSR race cars in the GTLM class while four customer programs bring the new 2019 Porsche 911 GT3 R to the Pro-Am style GTD class. As the most successful marque in the history of the legendary 24-hour race with 22 overall and 78 class wins, the German sports car manufacturer looks to write another chapter in the success story at the season opening round of the 2019 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship during the January 26 – 27 race.
The 24-hour race at the Daytona International Speedway is contested on a 3.56-mile (5.73-kilometer)-long, 12-turn combination of the historic tri-oval home of NASCAR’s Daytona 500 and a tight infield section.
Full-season drivers Patrick Pilet (France) and Nick Tandy (Great Britain) share the No. 911 car, and like last year, will be supported by Frédéric Makowiecki (France). In 2018, the trio won the long-distance races at Sebring and Road Atlanta, half of the four-race Michelin Endurance Cup events of Daytona (24-hours), Sebring (12-hours), Watkins Glen (6-hours) and Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta (10-hours). Earl Bamber (New Zealand), Laurens Vanthoor (Belgium) and Mathieu Jaminet (France) share the cockpit of the No. 912 sister car campaigned by the Porsche GT Team.
Making its North American debut in Daytona Beach, Florida, the 911 GT3 R is Porsche’s entry for all GT3-spec classes raced worldwide. Works driver Patrick Long (Manhattan Beach, California) leads the full-season effort for Dallas, Texas-based Park Place Motorsports. Long is joined by driver/team principal Patrick Lindsey (Santa Barbara, California), Nicholas Boulle (Dallas, Texas) as well as Porsche Young Professional Matt Campbell (Australia). In the No. 9 Pfaff Motorsports car are Porsche development driver Lars Kern (Germany) and Young Professional Dennis Olsen (Norway) joining full-season aces Scott Hargrove (Canada) and Zacharie Robichon (Canada). Hargrove was named a Porsche Selected Driver earlier this year while Robichon is the 2018 IMSA Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Yokohama champion.
NGT Motorsport returns to premier IMSA competition with the No. 99 Porsche 911 GT3 R manned by works driver Sven Müller (Germany) and Klaus Bachler (Austria) as well as the Germans Steffen Görig, Alfred Renauer and Jürgen Häring. Sharing driving duties in the No. 540 Black Swan Racing Porsche are factory driver Dirk Werner (Germany), Young Professional Matteo Cairoli (Italy), Marco Seefried (Germany) and driver/team principal Timothy Pappas (Boston, Massachusetts).
Fritz Enzinger, Head of Motorsport, Porsche.
“The season in North America always takes off with this great classic at Daytona. The race is a highlight that we definitely want to win this year with our superbly-engineered 911 RSR. Porsche is the most successful manufacturer at the 24-hour race in Florida. We sincerely hope that we can continue this success streak. The tests were promising. The entire team is well on track.”
Pascal Zurlinden, Director GT Factory Motorsport, Porsche.
“We have some unfinished business in Daytona from last year. We won all the other major races except the 24-hour classic in Florida. This has to change in 2019. Our sights are firmly set on winning. Our car has been perfected and tested, the team and the drivers are the very best. So we’ve taken all steps for a successful performance. We’re also looking forward to seeing our customer teams compete with the new 911 GT3 R for the first time.”
Steffen Höllwarth, Program Manager 911 RSR IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Porsche.
“We struggled with several problems at Daytona last year. These things should now be sorted out. The test underlined that all manufacturers in the GTLM class are still very close. So, for 2019, the name of the game will again be: the winner will be the one who makes the least mistakes. We hope that’s us, because we want to settle a score at Daytona.”
Sebastian Golz, Project Manager 911 GT3 R, Porsche.
“We have high expectations. We’ve finished developing the new car, the first four customer teams tackle Daytona with the new 911 GT3 R. The pit crews and driver pairings are very good, so we can head into the race feeling optimistic. We all made good progress during the tests. If this trend continues, then I’m confident that we’ll ultimately see a strong result.”
Patrick Pilet, Driver, No. 911 Porsche GT Team Porsche 911 RSR.
“It’s important that we bring home the best possible result at the start of the season. Obviously we would like to win. Daytona is the most important 24-hour race in North America. That motivates the team and all the drivers even more. With our Porsche 911 RSR and the experienced squad, we have every chance to fight for victory.”
Nick Tandy, Driver, No. 911 Porsche GT Team Porsche 911 RSR.
“The 24 Hours of Daytona is one of the world’s greatest endurance races. This alone makes the event immensely important for us. What’s more, this race opens the IMSA season, so it’s really important to earn as many points as possible here. Our Porsche 911 RSR is in its third year. We know everything about this car. That’ll help us. We won the major races at Sebring and Road Atlanta last year. Now it’s time to do the same at Daytona.”
Frédéric Makowiecki, Driver, No. 911 Porsche GT Team Porsche 911 RSR.
“We achieved some great successes last year. I’d like to see this continue at Daytona in 2019. At the test, we saw that we’re very well prepared with our tried-and-true 911 RSR. We should be able to maintain a good speed over the distance. It’s important that we don’t make any mistakes. If we can drive a clean race, then definitely anything is possible.”
Laurens Vanthoor, Driver, No. 912 Porsche GT Team Porsche 911 RSR.
“At last it’s starting again! I can hardly wait for the IMSA series to take off. We’re well prepared for the tough competition with our Porsche 911 RSR. My dream is to win the world’s top four 24-hour races. I did it at Le Mans, at the Nürburgring and in Spa-Francorchamps. Only Daytona is missing on my list of victories. I’d very much like to tick it off.”
Earl Bamber, Driver, No. 912 Porsche GT Team Porsche 911 RSR.
“It’s great to contest all races with Laurens again this year. We’re a perfect combination. They say that becoming a father makes a racing driver slower. That definitely won’t be the case with Larry. He’ll probably press the throttle pedal even harder. And, we have a very competitive car. If we drive a flawless race, we should be able to fight for victory no matter where we are – including, of course, the 24 Hours of Daytona.”
Mathieu Jaminet, Driver, No. 912 Porsche GT Team Porsche 911 RSR.
“I’m thrilled to get another opportunity to drive the 912 car at the long-distance races in the USA with my colleagues. If you look at the previous races in Daytona, you see that it must be Porsche’s turn to win again. We have a strong team and a fast and consistent car. The prerequisites for a win at the 24-hour race are therefore in place.”
Patrick Long, Driver, No. 73 Park Place Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R.
“I’m ready to kickoff 2019 with the Rolex 24 At Daytona. A notable mention that this is our first start on North American soil with the new Porsche 911 GT3 R. It was exciting to drive at the Roar, it’s a nice car out of the box.
In modern GTD racing, teams continue to deliver even after 24 hours of racing. The return to Park Place has me looking forward to the rest of the season. I’m working with some professionals that I’ve worked with for over ten years and great friends as well. Endurance is the name of the game for this one; not only in trying to win a watch but more importantly trying to get a good base of points on the board for the start of IMSA’s 50th season.”
Patrick Lindsey, Driver/Team Principal, No. 73 Park Place Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R.
“The theme of the weekend is ‘a lot’. Every moment of our week is planned out. The crews have a lot on their shoulders between pit lane and the two garages. As drivers we have a lot to focus on to get the Porsches just right for an endurance race. Even hospitality has a lot going on, every person on the team will be maxed out but I think we’re all excited and ready. There’s a fresh hope at the start of every season. Daytona is fun. We’re a highly competitive team and this is the start of competition so we’re ready to get out there.
Matt Campbell, Driver, No. 73 Park Place Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R.
“I’m not really sure what to expect. This is my first time contesting the Daytona classic. During the test I familiarized myself with the new car, with my Park Place Motorsports team and the racetrack, so I’m not expecting any difficulties. We want to do the best possible job. If we manage to do this, then let’s see what result comes out in the end.”
Dennis Olsen, Driver, No. 9 Pfaff Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R.
“Our Pfaff Motorsports team is very strong, but Daytona is new territory for us all. And this, of course, is a big challenge. But we certainly have enormous potential – in terms of the team, the car and the drivers. If we can make the most out of this and get through the first 23 hours of the race without mishap, then anything is possible. We will do our best to finish as far up the front as possible.”
Sven Müller, Driver, NGT Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R.
“Daytona is a sensational racetrack, and the event is simply fantastic. I’m very excited. It’s hard to describe our expectations. The car is brand new, and we still have a lot to learn. NGT Motorsports is one of the few teams to compete with a five-man crew. There are pros and cons to this. Let’s see what we can achieve in the tough GTD-class fight.”
Matteo Cairoli, Driver, Black Swan Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R.
“The Black Swan Racing environment is still very new for me. The squad is strong and our drivers are also impressive. We have a bit of work to do on the setup of the Porsche 911 GT3 R. I’m confident that we’ll make good progress. Then nothing stands in the way of a good race result.”
