Sakhir, Bahrain (October 28, 2024) — Porsche is aiming to cap off a banner year in motorsport by clinching the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) at the season finale in Bahrain this weekend. With the eight-hour race on Saturday, November 2, at the Bahrain International Circuit, the Porsche Penske Motorsport team is positioned to secure both the manufacturers’ and drivers’ titles in the Hypercar class.

The No. 6 Porsche 963, driven by Kévin Estre (France), André Lotterer (Germany), and Laurens Vanthoor (Belgium), leads the drivers’ standings after a stellar season. The trio sits in first place with 150 points, ahead of the Ferrari No. 50 car (115 points) and the Toyota No. 7 car (113 points). A top-eight finish will secure the drivers’ championship for Porsche.

In the manufacturers’ championship, Porsche holds a 10-point lead over Toyota, with Ferrari trailing by 27 points. With 39 points available for the race and pole position, a victory or a strong finish will be enough to secure the title.

After dominating the North American IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship earlier this year, where Porsche claimed nine titles, the German automaker hopes to finish the season by securing the top honors in the WEC.

“Aiming for Global Triumph”

Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President of Porsche Motorsport, expressed confidence in his team’s chances. “Our team has improved significantly in the second year of this program, and we’ve capitalized on every opportunity. If we maintain our focus and consistency, we’ll achieve our goal: becoming the 2024 World Champions,” Laudenbach said.

The team’s preparation has been meticulous. The Porsche 963s were fine-tuned at the team’s facility in Mannheim, Germany, before being tested on track at the Porsche Development Center in Weissach. Porsche Penske Motorsport Managing Director Jonathan Diuguid praised the team’s efforts, highlighting the journey from launching the LMDh program two years ago to now being on the verge of a world championship.

“Intense Rivalry in Bahrain”

Bahrain presents unique challenges, with its mix of high temperatures, falling night-time temperatures, and fine sand affecting track conditions. Tire management will be crucial for teams aiming for success on the 3.362-mile circuit. The race, which offers 1.5 times the usual points, adds extra pressure for all contenders.

The eight-hour race marks the end of the WEC season, but Porsche drivers will take to the track again on Sunday for the traditional “rookie test.” Young French drivers Gillian Henrion and Reshad de Gerus will participate, alongside Porsche’s Mathieu Jaminet, who will drive the Porsche 963 after finishing second in the IMSA drivers’ championship.

As Porsche gears up for the season finale, its customer teams are also looking to end on a high note. Hertz Team Jota, with drivers Will Stevens (UK) and Oliver Rasmussen (Denmark), will field their Porsche 963 in the Hypercar class for the last time before switching brands in 2025.

The LMGT3 class will feature the Manthey team’s two Porsche 911 GT3 R entries, with one already having secured the title at the previous round in Japan.

North American viewers can catch all the action on Motor Trend TV and the Max streaming app, with race coverage starting at 5:30 a.m. ET on November 2.

As the 2024 season concludes, Porsche looks to solidify its place at the pinnacle of endurance racing with another world championship.