Laurin Heinrich to Make Hypercar Debut at 8 Hours of Bahrain
Bahrain – Laurin Heinrich will step into the Hypercar category for the first time, racing for Porsche Penske Motorsport at the upcoming 8 Hours of Bahrain, scheduled from November 6-8, 2025. The 24-year-old IMSA GTD Pro champion replaces Michael Christensen in the #5 Porsche 963, joining teammates Mathieu Jaminet and Julien Andlauer.
Christensen’s absence marks a second consecutive race missed due to IMSA testing commitments, with his last outing being the 6 Hours of Fuji in September. Heinrich has been preparing for this opportunity, recently testing the Porsche 963 at Road Atlanta ahead of Petit Le Mans.
“I’m extremely happy to announce that I will debut in FIA WEC at Bahrain… This will be my first FIA WEC race, my first race in a prototype, and my first time driving at the Bahrain circuit,” Heinrich stated on social media.
Andlauer returns to the lineup after withdrawing from Petit Le Mans due to back pain. Porsche transitions back to a three-driver configuration for Bahrain, bringing in Matt Campbell to join Kévin Estre and Laurens Vanthoor in the #6 car, which is contending for both the Drivers’ and Manufacturers’ Championships.
Heading into Bahrain, Porsche finds itself 39 points behind Ferrari in the Manufacturers’ standings and 21 points adrift in the Drivers’ Championship, a competitive gap as the season finale approaches.
The 8 Hours of Bahrain will likely be Porsche Penske Motorsport’s final event in the FIA WEC for the immediate future, as the manufacturer prepares to shift its focus to IMSA and Formula E by 2026.
