Porsche 963 Aims to Defend IMSA GTP Crown at Watkins Glen
Porsche arrives at Watkins Glen International, topping the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s GTP standings after victories at Daytona, Sebring, Long Beach, and Laguna Seca, plus a podium in Detroit. Last season, the two Porsche 963 works cars finished first and third on the 3.450-mile New York circuit, which, with average laps above 132 mph, remains IMSA’s quickest track.
“After our strong performance at Le Mans, we head into the IMSA race at Watkins Glen full of confidence,” Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President of Porsche Motorsport, said. “The track suits our Porsche 963 perfectly. We won in our 2023 debut season, and last year we finished first and third. We’re enjoying a fantastic run in North America and want to build on that momentum to take another step toward defending our title in Watkins Glen.”
Urs Kuratle, Director Factory Racing LMDh, reinforced the point: “Watkins Glen is a real highlight for teams, drivers, and fans alike – nowhere else in IMSA does our Porsche 963 set such high average lap times. The results over the past two seasons show how well this circuit suits us. I hope we can be back on the top step of the podium next weekend.”
Jonathan Diuguid, Managing Director of Porsche Penske Motorsport, emphasised the team’s consistency. “Our IMSA team is in top form,” he said. “Third place in Detroit was our worst result of the season so far. We were firm at Watkins Glen last year, in both wet and dry conditions, and came away with the win. For the upcoming race, we’ll be running the hard Michelin tire compound for the first time this season. It performed well during testing a few weeks ago on the Porsche 963, so we’re heading into the six-hour endurance race with confidence.”
Brazil’s Felipe Nasr and Britain’s Nick Tandy share the championship-leading No. 7 Porsche 963, while Australia’s Matt Campbell and Frenchman Mathieu Jaminet steer the No. 6 sister car that sits second in the points. Customer teams JDC-Miller MotorSports and Proton Competition expand the GTP entry with their own Porsche 963s, meaning four prototypes from Stuttgart will chase outright glory.
Fans will also welcome the return of AO Racing’s bright-green “Rexy” Porsche 911 GT3 R in GTD Pro; former Porsche Juniors Laurin Heinrich and Klaus Bachler will helm the No. 77 machine after class wins at Sebring and Laguna Seca. In GTD, Wright Motorsports fields the No. 120 Porsche 911 GT3 R for Americans Adam Adelson and Elliott Skeer, alongside Australian Tom Sargent. The trio enters Watkins Glen second in the Michelin Endurance Cup points.
The six-hour contest dates back to the 1948 Watkins Glen Grand Prix and moved to the permanent circuit in 1956. Formula 1 visited from 1961 to 1980, and Porsche has amassed twelve outright victories here, most recently with the 963 last year. Carved through the wooded hills of the Finger Lakes, the eleven-corner layout rewards commitment with flowing bends, dramatic elevation changes, and precious little run-off, cementing its status as IMSA’s fastest stage.
Drivers relish that challenge. Matt Campbell said, “The track is high-speed and a lot of fun – I’m looking forward to it. We recently conducted a successful test and feel well-prepared. We’ve experienced some intense weeks with many races in quick succession, but we hope to keep up our strong IMSA results. Watkins Glen is a tough circuit, often with weather changes late in the race. It’ll be exciting.” Felipe Nasr added, “Watkins Glen is a fantastic venue, especially with its fast corners. We managed to win there last year, despite the challenging weather conditions. This season has been going very well for us, and we want to continue that momentum with another victory to extend our championship lead. It’s a true endurance classic.”
Newcomer Neel Jani observed, “I thought I’d driven every track in the world, but Watkins Glen will be a first for me. I’ve heard great things about its fast and flowing nature, and I’m eager to experience it. We showed strong pace at Daytona and Sebring, and if we tap into our full potential and stay consistent, a top-five finish is within reach.” Gianmaria Bruni echoed that hope: “I’m especially excited about Watkins Glen because I love fast tracks. The last few IMSA races didn’t go as planned, so I’m hopeful we can make progress at the upcoming six-hour race. If we can improve the car’s performance, then anything is possible for us.” Klaus Bachler concluded, “Our season has gone well, with class wins at Sebring and Laguna Seca putting us at the top of the championship. Now, the next endurance challenge awaits at Watkins Glen. Laurin Heinrich and I will share driving duties in the six-hour race. Our goal is to extend our lead in the GTD Pro standings. Having already tested on the track earlier this year, the team and we as drivers are thoroughly prepared. I’m very much looking forward to the unique demands of Watkins Glen.”
The GTP field features Campbell and Jaminet in No. 6, Nasr and Tandy in No. 7, Jani, Nico Varrone, and Nico Pino for Proton Competition’s No. 5, and Bruni with Tijmen van der Helm in JDC-Miller’s No. 85, while Bachler and Heinrich spearhead AO Racing’s GTD Pro bid and Adelson, Skeer, and Sargent combine for Wright Motorsports in GTD. Every entry will need speed, discipline, and flawless teamwork to tame America’s fastest road course and keep Porsche’s championship march on track.
