Porsche Penske Motorsport Faces Difficult Start to the Season in Qatar
Porsche Penske Motorsport began their season in Qatar with significant challenges. Both of their Porsche 963 hybrids faced setbacks, leading to disappointing finishes of 10th and 11th. Despite early hopes, mechanical issues hindered their performance. Management expressed disappointment but highlights the potential for improvement ahead of the next race in Imola.
Porsche Penske Motorsport faced a challenging start to the season during the 5.419-kilometre Grand Prix circuit in Doha, Qatar, where the race commenced under sunny weather at 2:00 PM local time. Initially, the air temperature reached 21 degrees Celsius, but as night fell, the track cooled down to 18 degrees, which created difficulties for both drivers and teams.
In the early stages, both Porsche 963 hybrid prototypes encountered setbacks. Julien Andlauer, behind the wheel of the number 5 car, experienced a damaged tyre that necessitated an unscheduled pit stop just 30 minutes into the race, relegating him to 18th place. However, an advantageous early refuelling during a safety car phase temporarily elevated the team to 5th, though further mechanical issues ultimately left them in 10th place, securing two championship points.
Laurens Vanthoor, competing in the sister car, similarly faced obstacles; early contact with another vehicle forced a rear wing replacement at their first stop. Vanthoor, along with co-drivers Kévin Estre and Matt Campbell, concluded the race in 11th place. Urs Kuratle, Head of Factory Motorsport LMDh, acknowledged the challenging race, admitting that the team’s performance was not up to par compared to last year’s podium finish.
Jonathan Diuguid, Managing Director of Porsche Penske Motorsport, expressed disappointment at securing only two points, emphasizing that more was expected from the team. “Our two Porsche had a long day… For the second round of the season in Imola, we will improve a few things and work on our performance,” he stated.
The customer team Proton Competition finished in 15th after grappling with brake issues, which hindered their fortunes throughout the race. In the LMGT3 class, the Manthey team, consisting of two 911 GT3 Rs, lacked speed and performance, finishing in 12th and 13th places, respectively.
Commenting after the race, several drivers remarked on their experiences. Michael Christensen noted the race’s challenges, stating, “It was pretty tough on the track with so many competitors… I was aiming for ninth place…” while Laurens Vanthoor referred to their previous year’s victory with disappointment, stating, “To be honest, the Porsche drove quite well, but we could not go any faster.”
Neel Jani articulated the tribulations faced during the race, sharing, “a brake problem cost us a lap… if we bring everything together, we will get the reward we want in the future,” indicating potential for growth. Michelle Gatting reflected positively on her driving experience, expressing hope for future improvements.
The race results saw Ferrari dominating the Hypercar class, securing the top three positions, while Porsche’s performance in both classes fell short of expectations, prompting a review and strategy reassessment as they prepare for the next race in Imola.
Overall, Porsche Penske Motorsport experienced a frustrating start to the season in Qatar, suffering setbacks that limited their performance and results. With both of their cars not finishing in the positions hoped for, management has acknowledged the need for improvements before the next round. The team is determined to analyze their performance and rectify issues to enhance their competitiveness moving forward.
Original Source: newsroom.porsche.com
