Porsche confirms 2019 Le Mans, IMSA programs

By: RACER Staff 12 hours ago Porsche Motorsport once again used its “Night of Champions” gala in Weissach as the backdrop to confirm its 2019 racing programs, including confirmation of its factory GT line-ups.For the 87th edition of the Le Mans 24 Hours next June, Porsche will again field four works cars. The two Porsche GT teams from the FIA WEC and the IMSA Weathertech Championship each campaign a pair of entries. The No. 91 911 RSR will be shared by Gianmaria Bruni, Richard Lietz and Frederic Makowiecki. The No. 92 will be driven by the title defenders Kevin Estre, Michael Christensen and Laurens Vanthoor.Patrick Pilet, Nick Tandy and Earl Bamber will race at Le Mans in the No. 93 car. Sharing driving duties in the No. 94 911 RSR are the youngsters Sven Muller, Mathieu Jaminet and Dennis Olsen.Porsche will again tackle the IMSA WeatherTech Championship with two 911 RSR entries in 2019. The collaboration with CORE Autosport has been extended for another three years. No. 911 will again be shared by Tandy and Pilet. They will be joined at the endurance races in Daytona, Sebring, Watkins Glen and Petit Le Mans by Makowiecki. The No. 912 sister car is manned by the regular crew of Bamber and Vanthoor. These two will be assisted at the endurance classics by Mathieu Jaminet.All factory drivers who were part of the team in 2018 are also under contract for 2019. The same applies to all Porsche Young Professionals. The only newcomer to the group is Porsche Junior Jaxon Evans. The 22-year-old New Zealander is the reigning champion of the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia and came out on top at a shootout against ten other talented youngsters from international one-make cup series. A total of 24 drivers make up the squad for 2019.Porsche continues its intensive support of customer teams in worldwide GT3 racing series, where a new 911 GT3 R featuring upgraded aerodynamics and significantly improved driveability will be fielded for the first time. Porsche Motorsport has sold 45 units of this customer sport racer. In 2019, three-man crews will contest all rounds of the Intercontinental GT Challenge and the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup: Romain Dumas, Sven Muller and Mathieu Jaminet as well as Dirk Werner, Dennis Olsen and Matt Campbell.In the Blancpain GT World Challenge America and the ADAC GT Masters, Porsche also supports at least two vehicles run by customer squads in the pro category. Customer support will also be given at a number of national series and selected events.