Outside Atlanta, Georgia, the Petit Le Mans endurance race at Road Atlanta served as the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s season finale, and emerging victorious was Porsche. The number 6 Porsche 963 LMDh hypercar won the race in difficult circumstances: 16 safety car deployments, a red-flag interruption, and heavy rain. With its 1.205-second lead, the victory marked the first time ever that a manufacturer clinched victory at Daytona, Sebring, and Road Atlanta in one IMSA season.
Meanwhile, the number 7 Porsche Penske Motorsport car ran alongside its counterpart for much of the race, but was forced to retire due to an accident about 90 minutes before the end of the race. Finishing the season in second place in the manufacturer standings for the season, Porsche emerged victorious for a third time in the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup, consisting of Daytona, Sebring, Watkins Glen, Road America, and Road Atlanta.
Porsche’s 963 hypercar has remained the most victorious LMDh racing hypercar since the regulation was introduced in 2023. Combining innovative hybrid technology with the pinnacle of endurance racing engineering, the group of top-class hypercars represents some of the most ambitious, futuristic, and powerful vehicles in the racing world.
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About his victory, driver Laurens Vanthoor of the number 6 Porsche 963 commented, “I have no idea how we pulled this off. We all did a perfect job: Porsche, the Porsche Penske Motorsport team, and us drivers in the cockpit. A difficult season is thus coming to an end with an absolute highlight. After this nail-biter at Road Atlanta, I’m exhausted and very happy.”
Alongside the 963 hypercars in the race, the Porsche 911 GT3 R was present throughout as well, with AO Racing’s iconic “Rexy” finishing in second place in the GTD Pro class, and the Manthey 1st Phorm 911 GT3 R finishing second in the GTD category. As Porsche celebrates 75 years of motorsport this year, Petit Le Mans brought the manufacturer a milestone victory and the conclusion of yet another successful IMSA season.
Image Source: Porsche