Porsche Penske Motorsport’s WEC Campaign Concludes in Bahrain
Bahrain, October 2025 – Porsche Penske Motorsport’s three-season stint in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) came to an unceremonious end at Bahrain, where the performance of the Porsche 963 fell short of expectations. The team entered the race with the hope of securing both the Drivers’ and Manufacturers’ titles but ultimately finished 13th and 14th, well off the podium.
The #6 Porsche, driven by Laurens Vanthoor, Kévin Estre, and Matt Campbell, demonstrated initial promise by climbing from the back of the grid into the top 10. However, after sunset, pace diminished, and strategic decisions—including an ill-timed early ‘splash’—left both entries a lap down when the Safety Car was deployed in the final hour.
Porsche’s LMDh Motorsport Director, Urs Kuratle, expressed disappointment post-race, stating, “We expected a better race pace than we actually showed… We simply did not have the pace.” The day’s outcome resulted in losing the second place in the Manufacturers’ championship and ultimately third in the Drivers’ standings.
Throughout its development since first testing in 2022, the Porsche 963 achieved notable successes, including four WEC victories and a strong showing at the 2024 Le Mans, where the team narrowly missed victory, finishing just 14 seconds behind. Yet, 2025 proved challenging; a lack of early-season momentum crippled their championship aspirations.
Reflecting on the program, Kuratle noted, “We came a long way… there were many highlights for me to see how the team grew together.” Despite the setback in Bahrain, he highlighted the team’s growth and development in WEC competition, distinguishable from their IMSA efforts.
As the partnership between Porsche and Team Penske concludes, the Porsche 963 will continue to compete in the IMSA Sportscar Championship, possibly returning to WEC in the future. The legacy of three WEC wins, a Drivers’ title, and a Le Mans podium showcases the significant impact of Porsche’s return to the endurance racing scene, albeit falling short of their ambitious goals.
