Porsche Expresses Frustration After Disappointing Start to 2025 Season

Porsche faced a challenging start to the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship in Qatar, with neither of their 963s finishing in the top ten during qualifying. Unforeseen technical issues affected both cars during the race, leading to a disappointing outcome for the defending champions. Porsche aims to improve performance in the next round at Imola.

Porsche, the defending champions, expressed frustration following their performance in the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship season opener in Qatar. Unlike their dominant showing last year at the Lusail International Circuit, this time, none of the Porsche 963s qualified within the top ten. Julien Andlauer, in the 5 prototype, secured 11th place after narrowly missing out on Hyperpole, while reigning Drivers’ champion Kévin Estre qualified 13th in the 6 car.

The race proved to be challenging for the Porsche team. An early pit visit for the 5 due to a damaged tire dropped the car to 18th in the Hypercar class. After briefly achieving third place during a safety car, additional tire issues and a damper repair further hampered their efforts, resulting in a final position of tenth. Michael Christensen summarized the race as an exhausting experience, highlighting the difficulties with tire wear and contact with other cars.

In addition to the 5’s struggles, the 6 car, driven by Estre, Laurens Vanthoor, and Matt Campbell, encountered a setback after Vanthoor was hit from behind, requiring a rear wing replacement. Ultimately, the 6 finished 11th, just 20 seconds behind the 5 team. With hopes for better performance in the upcoming round at Imola, Porsche acknowledged the stark contrast to their previous results in Qatar where they had three cars on the podium.

Urs Kuratle, Porsche’s LMDh Director, admitted the race was demanding while reflecting on last year’s success. Jonathan Diuguid, Managing Director of Porsche Penske Motorsport, commented on the disappointing outcome, noting the 6 was affected by the Virtual Safety Car. Both teams remain optimistic about improving their performance for the next race in Italy.

In conclusion, Porsche’s opening round of the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship was marked by unexpected challenges and disappointing results. Despite the frustrations experienced by both the #5 and #6 teams, their commitment to improving performance in the upcoming race at Imola remains strong. Moving forward, addressing technical issues and establishing a competitive pace will be essential for a successful title defense.

Original Source: www.fiawec.com