2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship: Porsche Dominates at Laguna Seca
Laguna Seca, CA — In a thrilling display of strategy and skill, Porsche Penske Motorsport achieved a notable 1-2 finish at the Monterey SportsCar Championship held at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on May 11, 2025. The highlight of the day was the victory of the No. 6 Porsche 963, driven by Mathieu Jaminet and Matt Campbell.
Race Overview
The race commenced with the No. 24 Team RLL BMW M Hybrid V8 on pole but saw an early pit stop strategy from the No. 6 Porsche, allowing Jaminet and Campbell to undercut both the BMW and the No. 7 Penske Porsche. Upon Jaminet’s takeover, he established a 7-second lead over former co-driver Nick Tandy in the No. 7 Porsche, who later narrowed the gap after the final pit stops.
The closing laps were intense; traffic posed challenges for Tandy, allowing Dries Vanthoor in the No. 24 BMW to vie for second place. An altercation into Turn 11 led to contact that compromised Vanthoor’s position, ending in a sand trap as Jaminet secured the victory.
“This win is a testament to our strategy and pace,” said Jaminet post-race. Tandy and co-driver Felipe Nasr’s second-place finish, despite the setback, keeps them leading the GTP Championship standings.
Key Results
- No. 6 Porsche 963 – Mathieu Jaminet / Matt Campbell (Winners)
- No. 7 Porsche 963 – Nick Tandy / Felipe Nasr (2nd Place)
- No. 24 BMW M Hybrid V8 – Dries Vanthoor / Philipp Eng (3rd Place)
BMW M Team RLL’s struggle continues, with the No. 25 entry finishing fourth and lacking the pace for victory, while the top five was rounded out by the No. 93 Meyer Shank Racing Acura and the No. 31 Cadillac.
GT Results
In GTD PRO, AO Racing continued its winning streak with Laurin Heinrich and Klaus Bachler driving the No. 77 Porsche 911 GT3 R to victory. Heinrich executed a strategic undercut during pit stops, securing the lead from polesitter Giacomo Altoe’s No. 81 Ferrari 296 GT3.
The final podium was completed by the No. 3 Pratt Miller Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R and the No. 9 Pfaff Motorsports Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO, demonstrating competitive depth across GT classes.
In GTD, Winward Racing’s Russell Ward and Philip Ellis claimed their second win of the season in the No. 57 Mercedes-AMG GT3. They emerged victorious after leading a final sprint past both the No. 12 Vasser Sullivan Racing Lexus and the No. 32 Korthoff Competition Mercedes-AMG.
Summary of Key Finishes
- GTD PRO Winner: No. 77 Porsche 911 GT3 R
- Second Place: No. 81 Ferrari 296 GT3
- Third Place: No. 3 Corvette Z06 GT3.R
The next round of the championship takes the teams to the Detroit Grand Prix on May 31, promising further intrigue in the unfolding season.
