The Porsche GT Team concluded the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship 50th Anniversary season with GTLM class manufacturer, driver and team titles. At the final round of the season at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta (Braselton, Georgia), the two Porsche 911 RSR race cars flying Coca-Cola colors finished in fifth and sixth-places in the all-factory team class. The 10-hour Motul Petit Le Mans marked the 50th and final factory outing for the successful GT racer from Germany. The 510-horsepower race car won six of the eleven rounds on the 2019 IMSA calendar on the way to the Manufacturer Championship title. Porsche works drivers Earl Bamber (New Zealand) and Laurens Vanthoor (Belgium) were crowned the class drivers’ champions, with team honors going to the squad campaigning the No. 912 Porsche 911 RSR.
Fighting deep into the race for a podium result, the No. 912 with Bamber and Vanthoor, joined by Mathieu Jaminet (France), were spun in the closing lap by the overall race leader. The 2019 Champions would close the season with a fifth-place finish. The No. 911 sister car helmed by Nick Tandy (Great Britain), Patrick Pilet and Frédéric Makowiecki (both France) secured a sixth-place at the end of the ten-hours of racing. As three-time race winners this year, Tandy and Pilet’s on-track performance secured the runner-up position in the drivers’ championship. In the GTD class, the Pfaff Motorsports customer team earned its third podium result of the season with the No. 9 Porsche 911 GT3 R. The third-place finish for Canadian drivers Zacharie Robichon and Scott Hargrove along with Porsche development driver Lars Kern (Germany) joins wins for the team at Lime Rock Park and Road America earlier this season.
Fritz Enzinger, Vice President Motorsport.
“It’s a historic day for Porsche Motorsport. After winning the manufacturers’ and drivers’ world championship titles in the FIA WEC, we’ve now also secured the titles in the 2019 IMSA championship. Thanks to all the drivers and the entire Porsche team for their excellent performances. Our incredible team spirit and the common goal of winning races for Porsche have made this success story possible.”
Pascal Zurlinden, Director Factory Motorsport.
“That was definitely not our best race. We made a lot of small mistakes. Still, now it’s time to celebrate. We have every reason to party after winning all titles in the 2019 IMSA series. We’re now the champions of the FIA WEC and in North America – that’s something we can be extremely proud of.”
Steffen Höllwarth, Head of Operations IMSA Championship.
“Our competitors were better today. It didn’t go so smoothly for us. But we have our eye on the big picture. We’ve won the manufacturers’ title and claimed positions one and two in the drivers’ and team classifications. All in all, it was a phenomenal season. We’ll enjoy our successes, but we’ll also analyze today’s race.”
Patrick Pilet, Driver, No. 911 Porsche GT Team Porsche 911 RSR.
“The race wasn’t easy, because we lacked some speed unfortunately. We don’t yet know the reason for this. Still, it’s a great day for Porsche. Together, we won all the titles. Congratulations to Earl and Laurens on winning the drivers’ championship. I’m now looking forward to the party we’ll have to celebrate being crowned manufacturers’ champions.”
Nick Tandy, Driver, No. 911 Porsche GT Team Porsche 911 RSR.
“You can’t win every race. Today wasn’t our day. Still, we achieved our goal of winning the championship. Congratulations to the entire Porsche squad and especially to Earl and Laurens. After a great season, the guys deserve to be champions.”
Frédéric Makowiecki, Driver, No. 911 Porsche GT Team Porsche 911 RSR.
“It was a perfect season for Porsche. If you take home all the titles in the enormously competitive GTLM class, then it’s proof of perfect teamwork, strong performances in the cockpit and an extremely competitive car. The Porsche 911 RSR has enabled us to secure many victories. The new 911 RSR has some big shoes to fill next season.”
Earl Bamber, Driver, No. 912 Porsche GT Team Porsche 911 RSR.
“The race was simply exhausting because we had to fight over ten hours. Unfortunately, we didn’t have the pace to win today. Still, in spite of all the problems, we were within striking distance of the podium until the last lap. And that’s exactly what set us apart in this incredible season. Our perfect teamwork always gave us the opportunity to be right up the front when the going got tough. Now we’ll celebrate our titles.”
Laurens Vanthoor, Driver, No. 912 Porsche GT Team Porsche 911 RSR.
“I came to Porsche three years ago. I finally got the chance to drive in the USA. It’s something I’ve always wanted. The IMSA series was completely new territory for me. I had to get used to the race tracks, the processes and the car. Now I’ve won the title with my friend Earl. For me personally, a dream has come true.”
Mathieu Jaminet, Driver, No. 912 Porsche GT Team Porsche 911 RSR.
“That was a tough race. In the high temperatures in the first half of the race we weren’t fast enough. Only when the sun went down were we able to utilize the full potential of our Porsche 911 RSR. We fought to the last second, but it wasn’t enough. Still, the most important thing was to win the title – and that’s what we did. I’m proud to have contributed to this.”
