Estre Secures Victory for Porsche at COTA in Dramatic WEC Finish
Austin, TX – Kévin Estre clinched a pivotal victory for Porsche Penske Motorsport during a tumultuous six-hour race at Circuit of the Americas (COTA), marking a crucial win for the #6 Porsche 963 team. Teammates Laurens Vanthoor and Matt Campbell contributed to this success, keeping their championship aspirations alive.
The key moment occurred during a Safety Car restart with less than two hours remaining. Estre, positioned second behind Alessandro Pier Guidi’s #51 Ferrari AF Corse 499P, executed a calculated move to take the lead, despite the wet conditions.
“I spent the first four hours watching the on-board and I knew where the wet lines were,” Estre said. “I knew I wanted to try to overtake early, and so I went for a move.” The maneuver, however, resulted in contact that caused a left front puncture on the Ferrari, ultimately ending Pier Guidi’s chances for victory. The #51 Ferrari finished fifth.
Post-race, Estre defended his move, stating, “I left room there. He just decided to turn while I was there. I cannot go anywhere.”
Following the lead change, Estre maintained his pace amidst multiple incidents that hindered his ability to extend the gap over the competition. “The car was amazing in the wet,” he noted, highlighting the effective handling of the Porsche despite challenging conditions.
As the race progressed, the track dried, allowing competitors in the GT class to switch to slick tires. However, Porsche opted to keep its cars on wet tires, a decision that proved successful as rivals struggled for grip.
“The Ferrari was very strong when the track was drying,” Estre acknowledged. “It took a long time to dry, but I was confident that the guys would make the right choice.”
A late splash of fuel enabled Estre to cross the finish line first, securing the team’s first WEC win since the 2024 6 Hours of Fuji, and Campbell’s first WEC class victory since 2019.
Reflecting on the performance, Estre stated, “Car #6 is really strong, and we keep showing it. I’m really proud to be part of this group.”
This victory boosts Porsche’s momentum as they aim for the championship with just a few races remaining in the season.
