Porsche Penske Motorsport is preparing for an exhilarating season finale at the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The Petit Le Mans will take place at Road Atlanta on October 14, and the team has announced a modified driver lineup that features notable additions.
Josef Newgarden, the 2023 Indianapolis 500 champion and two-time INDYCAR title holder, will make his debut with the team in the No. 7 Porsche 963. Joining him will be Laurens Vanthoor, a seasoned Porsche factory driver who will support the No. 6 entry alongside his regular teammates Nick Tandy and Mathieu Jaminet.
"Porsche Penske Motorsport has chosen to add Laurens Vanthoor and Josef Newgarden to our Petit Le Mans lineup," said Managing Director Jonathan Diuguid. "Laurens has raced at Road Atlanta in the Porsche 911 RSR, and he will be able to add his experience from racing in the WEC for PPM. Josef brings a different dynamic as this year’s Indianapolis 500 winner; it will be something very exciting for the team as well as himself."
Diuguid emphasized Newgarden's increasing engagement in sports car racing throughout 2023. "Josef has increased his exposure to sportscar racing already in 2023 with a test in the Team Penske LMP2, as well as raced in Daytona in 2023. In addition, he got his first exposure to the 963 in early June at Road America. With several testing days for the team at Road Atlanta, we are confident that both Laurens and Josef will be fully prepared to deliver for the team and have a positive result in the final race of the season."
This season at IMSA has been a significant one for Porsche with the debut of the 963. Both driver pairings in the factory team have experienced success: Tandy and Jaminet, as well as Campbell and Nasr, each etched their names in the history books by reaching the podium. Notably, the No. 6 car secured its inaugural international victory during the 100-minute sprint race at the Long Beach street circuit.
The excitement surrounding the Petit Le Mans signifies the culmination of a thrilling championship campaign. Event organizers anticipate significant engagement from fans and teams alike as they rally to see how the new driver pairings will perform in the intense ten-hour endurance race.
With Newgarden's talent and Vanthoor's experience, Porsche Penske Motorsport is primed for a competitive showdown as they aim to conclude their season on a high note. The combination of endurance racing’s challenge and their shared expertise could prove crucial in this concluding race.
The Petit Le Mans has grown to become one of the most prestigious endurance races in the motorsport calendar, attracting elite competitors from various racing disciplines. As the Porsche team gears up for this critical event, all eyes will be on the performance of their newly formed duos, particularly how the renowned reputation of Newgarden will blend with Vanthoor’s proficiency in Porsche's racing ecosystem.
As October 14 approaches, anticipation builds around Road Atlanta, where fans hope to see Porsche reclaim its stature in endurance racing—a fitting finale to a memorable season where dynamics and teamwork will once again be tested on one of the sport’s grandest stages.