Home Blog Page 10

March 2019 Porsche USA sales

The StuttgartDNA Team
-
0
March 2019 Porsche USA sales

Atlanta-based Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA) recently revealed March sales figures of 4,779 Porsche vehicles.  This is a new record high for the month of March.

This latest record for March arrives in the wake of record months for January and February.  Accordingly, 15,015 Porsche automobiles sold in Q1 of 2019 reflects an increase of 7.6 percent over sales in the first quarter of 2018.

“It has been a month of celebrations for Porsche,” announced Klaus Zellmer, President and CEO of PCNA.  “First, we claimed the No. 1 spot in the 2019 J.D. Power Customer Service Index Study, followed by a record March.  This is a testament to our 191 U.S. dealers and their employees, who help ensure our customer experience lives up to the same superb quality as our cars.”

March 2019 Porsche USA sales: Seen here is a chart of a spreadsheet depicting the quantitative numbers of Porsche USA sales for March 2019 Porsche US sales as described in the accompanying article. Source: Porsche Cars North America
Source: PCNA

Increased demand for the new Cayenne contributed to this record in March (+76.3 percent over March 2018) and in Q1 (+69.1 percent over 2018).

While sales of the 911 were down by 9.1 percent this March compared to last March, Porsche’s iconic 991 produced a 15.3 percent increase with 2,894 units this quarter compared to Q1 of 2018.  These impressive 911 results precede the highly anticipated debut of the new 992-gen of the 911 later this year.

Mr. Zellmer sums it all up:  “I am grateful customers are already showing this level of Porsche passion at the start of an amazing year that will feature a new 911, a refreshed Macan, and our first purely electric sports car, the Taycan.”

Porsche Approved Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) U.S. sales saw an increase of 12.6 percent year-over-year, with 2,280 units driving off dealer lots.

Please share your COMMENTS with everyone by scrolling down to the “LEAVE A REPLY” space below at the very bottom of this page. Your input is highly valued by us and much appreciated!

Porsche wins 2019 IMSA Sebring 12 Hours

The StuttgartDNA Team
-
0
Porsche wins 2019 IMSA Sebring 12 Hours

Porsche wins 2019 IMSA Sebring 12 Hours fresh on the heels of winning the WEA 1000 Miles of Sebring during SuperSebring weekend.  The No. 911 Porsche 911 RSR drove home this final unprecedented weekend triumph last Saturday.

Piloted by Nick Tandy (Great Britain) and his teammates Patrick Pilet and Frédéric Makowiecki from France, the approximately 510-hp No. 911 Weissach racecar crossed the Sebring finish line first at the drop of the GTLM-class checkers.

https://vimeo.com/324776568

Porsche Underscores the “Super” in SuperSebring Weekend by Winning the IMSA 12 Hours of Sebring after Dominating Both GTE Classes in the 1000 Miles of Sebring

Tandy, Pilet and Makowiecki’s victory in the 2019 12 Hours of Sebring is the Porsche trio’s back-to-back win after their top-of-the-podium conquest during last year’s grueling American twelve-hour Sebring marathon.  Last weekend’s race was round 2 of the 2019 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

This marks Porsche’s extraordinary, unprecedented 96th career win at Sebring.

Porsche’s IMSA GTLM tour de force comes a day after Porsche’s WEC GTE-Pro and GTE-Am tandem triumphs in the 1000 Miles of Sebring race, round 6 of the Sports Car World Endurance Championship (WEC), on Friday.

In the latter brawl, two more Weissach 911 RSR wonders downright shut out both GTE fields:  The No. 91 Porsche RSR driven by Gianmaria Bruni (Italy) and Richard Lietz (Austria) in GTE-Pro; and the No. 77 Porsche RSR piloted Porsche Young Professional Matt Campbell (Australia), Porsche Junior Julien Andlauer (France) and Christian Ried (Germany) in GTE-Am.

“I’ve been in motorsport for a long time, but I’ve never experienced anything like this,” attested Fritz Enzinger, Vice President of Porsche Motorsport.  “Within 48 hours we won a 1,000-mile race and a twelve-hour race with our factory teams at one venue.  That’s phenomenal.”

Porsche’s 12-Hour Tour de Force

Kudos to the No. 911 Porsche RSR Team and Their First-Place Finish in GT Le Mans (GTLM) Class

Meanwhile, back at Saturday’s 12-hour endurance affair, the race classic got off to a miserable start.  A deluge of downpours made for a messy, slippery course from the get-go.  These dismal conditions drove the No. 911 Porsche RSR — with little to no grip — further and further down the leaderboard.

But the horrible weather began improving near race’s midpoint — as did the No. 911’s progression up through the field.  The team’s world-class racing experience, savvy tactics and impeccable teamwork propelled the No. 911 to the head of the pack in P1.

“We had major problems in the rain early on in the race, but we battled our way forward again in an incredible manner,” Frédéric Makowiecki confided.  Like last year, it was a perfect team effort.  With such successes, it really becomes clear just how important it is for the entire squad to work perfectly.”

Nick Tandy vanquished all attempts of the field to catch up with and pass him.  He thus ensured that his RSR was the first GTLM car to hit the checkered flag with a 1.951-second lead.

“It was a totally crazy race that one rarely experiences,” Tandy stating the obvious.  “We got the lot:  extremely wet at the beginning, a dry track, then predicted rain, which didn’t eventuate.  We started from pole, then quickly fell back, only to end up in the lead again.”

Tandy concluded, “You only get such things at a long-distance race.  And this is the precisely the kind of discipline that Porsche excels at.  Never give up, always push and then pull out all stops at the right moment.  That’s how it’s done.”

As an awesome result, the trio of Makowiecki, Pilet and Tandy became the first race team to win the 12 Hours of Sebring two times in a row.  Another excellent race result to come from this historic win is the fact that the No. 911 team has shot up to the top of IMSA’s GTLM rankings.

“It somehow feels unreal,” Pilet added.  “We started from pole position, and then we were running last, and now we celebrate our second Sebring victory in a row — unbelievable!”

“Perhaps we should rename the event the ‘Porsche Super Sebring’ race weekend,” cheered Pascal Zurlinden, Director of Porsche GT Factory Motorsport.  “Three pole positions, three victories — what more could you want.  Our team did everything right.”

The sister Porsche 911 RSR No. 912 car unfortunately did not fare as well.  But after slip-sliding down the field a whole two laps, the team of Earl Bamber (New Zealand), Laurens Vanthoor (Belgium) and Mathieu Jaminet (France) did manage to muscle its way back up to finish in fifth place.

“Unfortunately we lost too much time in the rainy start phase,” rued Vanthoor.  “Otherwise we could have fought for victory.  Our car was incredibly good, especially on slicks in the final phase.  For me personally, I’m a bit disappointed.  But it is outweighed by the joy of an incredibly successful weekend for Porsche.”

Heartbreak in GT Daytona (GTD) Class

For much of the race, the Pfaff Motorsports customer team’s No. 9 Porsche 911 GT3 R seemed invincible in GTD class.  Everything was going Pfaff’s way.  The No. 9 led early on for most of the first half of the race.  Zacharie Robichon (Canada) also appeared unbeatable during his initial stints in the car.

But then the tide rudely turned on the team of Robichon, Lars Kern (Germany) and Scott Hargrove (Canada).

In the midst of their winning run, a sensor in their 500-hp GT3 R suddenly went kaput.  While the pit crew went to work installing a new sensor, the No. 9 fell further and further behind.  Once the Weissach machine got back underway on track, it finished in tenth place at the end of the 12-hour enduro.

Finishing a little higher in the field was the identical No. 73 GT3 R.  Piloted by Porsche factory driver Patrick Long (USA) and his fellow Americans Nicholas Boulle and Patrick Lindsey, the Park Place Motorsports Porsche finished in a respectable but disappointing sixth place on the leaderboard.

Round three of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship rolls on April 13 in Long Beach, California (USA).

Race result

GTLM class

  1. Pilet/Tandy/Makowiecki (F/GB/F), Porsche 911 RSR, 330 laps
  2. Hand/Müller/Bourdais (USA/D/F), Ford GT, 330 laps
  3. Garcia/Magnussen/Rockenfeller (E/DK/D), Corvette C7.R, 330 laps
  4. Bamber/Vanthoor/Jaminet (NZ/B/F), Porsche 911 RSR, 330 laps

GTD class

  1. Ineichen/Bortolotti/Breukers (CH/I/NL), Lamborghini Huracan GT3, 320 laps
  2. Potter/Lally/Pumpelly (USA/USA/USA), Lamborghini Huracan GT3, 320 laps
  3. MacNeil/Vilander/Westphal (USA/FIN/USA), Ferrari 488 GT3, 320 laps
  4. Long/Lindsey/Boulle (USA/USA/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 R, 320 laps
  5. Kern/Robichon/Hargrove (D/CDN/CDN), Porsche 911 GT3 R, 318 laps

Full results: http://imsa.alkamelsystems.comhttp://imsa.alkamelsystems.com

© 2019 Copyright StuttgartDNA.com.  All Rights Reserved.

Please share your COMMENTS with everyone by scrolling down to the “LEAVE A REPLY” space below at the very bottom of this page.  Your input is highly valued by us as well as much appreciated!

Porsche wins 2019 WEC Sebring 1000 Miles

The StuttgartDNA Team
-
0
Porsche wins 2019 WEC Sebring 1000 Miles

Porsche wins 2019 WEC Sebring 1000 Miles during this past 2019 SuperSebring weekend.  The No. 91 factory Porsche 911 RSR finished in first place in Florida during the 1000 Miles of Sebring.

This was the sixth round of the World Endurance Championship (WEC).  Hence Porsche has increased its drivers’ and manufacturer’s championship leads.

https://vimeo.com/324508060

Porsche Motorsport Struts its Stuff during the 1000 Miles of Sebring

Porsche Prevails in GTE-Pro Class

The No. 91 Factory Porsche 911 RSR Emerges Victorious

Piloted by Gianmaria Bruni (Italy) and Richard Lietz (Austria), the No. 91 Porsche 911 RSR ran a good, clean, consistent second place throughout most of the race on the grueling, legendary American 3.74-mile / 6.02-kilometer circuit.

But rain began falling less than a half hour ahead of the checkers.  Thus forced to box for a full set of rain rubber, the No. 91 received flawless servicing by the spot-on Manthey Racing factory crew.

That speedy pit stop catapulted the Bruni and Lietz 911 RSR into the lead — the No. 91 Porsche finishing ahead of the GTE-Pro field at the checkers.  This awesome first win for them together leapfrogged the boys up to second place in the drivers’ championship rankings.

“At the last pit stop in the rain, our team did an immaculate tire change and, with the better strategy, managed to make up more than five seconds over the previously leading BMW,” observed Pascal Zurlinden, Director of GT Factory Motorsport. “Congratulations to the mechanics — they made this victory possible.”

“For me personally it’s even more special:  It’s the first time I’ve won a race for Porsche.  That means so much to me,” Gianmaria Bruni emoted.

Richard Lietz seconded that emotion by saying, “Everything ran perfectly for us.  I’m totally over the moon with my first win of this season.”

https://vimeo.com/324037967

The No. 92 Factory Porsche 911 RSR Wasn’t as Lucky

Teammates Michael Christensen (Denmark) and Kévin Estre (France) in their twin No. 92 Porsche 911 RSR were not as blessed.  However, at the end of the day, they did manage to hang on to and extend their championship lead — 25 points ahead of their No. 91 teammates.

Estre did earn a hard-fought pole position initially, though.  Despite this, problems ensued from there for the approximately 510-hp No. 92 911 RSR from Weissach.  Estre traded major paint with the No. 95 Aston Martin.

Adding insult to injury, Estre incurred a stop-and-go penalty that knocked him further and further down the leaderboard.  He was never able to catch up to the front of the field.  Then the rain came which only worsened Estre’s plight.  He had to settle for fifth place.

Kévin Estre elaborated, “I was locked in a fight with an Aston Martin and had the better line out the corner and wanted to go for it.  I touched him slightly and he spun — my mistake.  The penalty cost us a possible victory and many points.  It’s not the end of the world, but it’s still a shame.”

The inclement downpours that arrived late to the party cut the race short at its eight-hour time limit, instead of at its eponymous 1000-mile distance.

“I’m totally delighted,” enthused Fritz Enzinger, Vice President of Porsche Motorsport.  “After clinching pole position in both the WEC and IMSA and now winning the first of two races in Sebring, and in such difficult conditions in the closing stages — you don’t get it better than this.”

Porsche harvested 46 World Endurance GTE Manufacturers Championship Points from their Sebring efforts.  This places Porsche in the catbird seat with a substantial 100-point lead out in front of their second-place Ferrari rivals.  The SuperSebring WEC round marks Porsche’s fourth victory of the season.

Porsche Motorsport Enjoys an Encore Win in GTE-Am Class

Dempsey-Proton Racing’s No. 77 Porsche 911 RSR Also Scores a First-Place Win

Mr. Enzinger also lauded Porsche’s privateers in the race:  “I’m also very proud of our customer teams who did brilliantly in the GTE-Am class.”  Here’s why and how.

Historically formidable across many decades of racing since winning its first race with Porsche No. 1 in the late Forties, Porsche Motorsport enjoyed a tandem trip to the winner’s circle with another victory in GTE-Am this past weekend.  The No. 77 Dempsey-Proton Racing Porsche 911 RSR clinched its second consecutive triumph of the WEC season since winning the previous Shanghai round.

Executing flawless teamwork in the winning No. 77 racecar were Porsche Young Professional Matt Campbell (Australia), Porsche Junior Julien Andlauer (France) and Christian Ried (Germany).

The trio not only won the race, but also started from pole position.  In short, this turned out to be a perfect SuperSebring weekend for the German-based, Patrick Dempsey-owned race team.

“The conditions were really tricky towards the end,” conceded the young but racy Matt Campbell.  “But we still managed to bring home the victory.  I’m really relieved because things can quickly go wrong in the rain.  At the end of the day it’s a perfect result and a banner day for Porsche.”

Other Porsche Customer Teams Finished Strong

The No. 56 Team Project 1 Porsche RSR of Egidio Perfetti (Norway), American Patrick Lindsey and works driver Jörg Bergmeister (Germany) earned a fine result too.  The gents in the No. 56 Porsche secured for the Porsche marque another podium spot on the third step.

Speaking of gentlemen, veteran Porsche works driver Mr. Bergmeister put it all in sage perspective:  “We’ve cut our losses — very successfully.  By scoring third place we’ve defended our lead in the championship and that was our main goal.  Our car was strong in the race, although the balance was off due to a collision that wasn’t our fault.  We made the best out of these circumstances.”

Not just one, but two spots on the podium ain’t too shabby for the Stuttgart rennsport powerhouse.  But wait, there’s more:

Porsche Junior Thomas Preining (Austria) and the two British pilots Ben Barker and Michael Wainwright muscled their Gulf Racing No. 86 Porsche RSR to fourth place.

Not far behind them in the seventh slot on the leaderboard was the Dempsey-Proton Racing’s No. 88 Porsche RSR, piloted by the all-Italian team of Porsche Young Professional Matteo Cairoli, Giorgio Roda and Gianluca Roda.  [Editor’s Note:  Sorry, Ferrari!]

Race result

GTE-Pro class

  1. Lietz/Bruni (A/I), Porsche 911 RSR, 226 laps
  2. Tomczyk/Catsburg/Sims (D/NL/GB), BMW M8 GTE, 226 laps
  3. Priaulx/Tincknell/Bomarito (GB/GB/USA), Ford GT, 225 laps
  4. Christensen/Estre (DK/F), Porsche 911 RSR, 225 laps

GTE-Am class

  1. Ried/Andlauer/Campbell (D/F/AUS), Porsche 911 RSR, 221 laps
  2. Flohr/Castellacci/Fisichella (CH/I/I), Ferrari 488 GTE, 221 laps
  3. Bergmeister/Lindsey/Perfetti (D/USA/N), Porsche 911 RSR, 221 laps
  4. Wainwright/Barker/Preining (GB/GB/A), Porsche 911 RSR, 221 laps
  5. Roda/Roda/Cairoli (I/I/I), Porsche 911 RSR, 219 laps

Full results:  http://fiawec.alkamelsystems.com

© 2019 Copyright StuttgartDNA.com.  All Rights Reserved.

Please share your COMMENTS with everyone by scrolling down to the “LEAVE A REPLY” space below at the very bottom of this page.  Your input is highly valued by us as well as much appreciated!

2017-2019 Porsche 718 voluntary recall

The StuttgartDNA Team
-
0
2017-2019 Porsche 718 voluntary recall

Porsche Cars North America, Inc., (PCNA) issues a 2017-2019 Porsche 718 voluntary recall for the United States and Puerto Rico.  14,388 vehicles in all 50 States and Puerto Rico are subject to this recall.

The 2017-2019 Porsche 718 voluntary recall involves a potential detrimental outcome of a particular frontal crash test.  This entails requirements of UN Regulation R-94 regarding fulfillment of, or possible lack thereof, occupant protection.

Porsche Internal Quality Control independently detected this potential inconsistency.  Porsche’s IQC analyses determined that the lower longitudinal crash beam component could penetrate the bulkhead wall.  This in turn might trigger a fuel leakage.

Fortunately, though, no reports of accidents or injuries have been recorded resulting from this voluntarily announced recall issue.

PCNA is about to notify owners by mail of the affected 2017-through-2019-model-year vehicles about this recall.  PCNA will urge such owners to bring their Porsche 718 Boxster and Cayman automobiles to an authorized Porsche dealer.

Once the affected vehicles arrive at the dealerships, each service department will fasten the lower longitudinal crash beam member components with additional rivets.  This precautionary reinforcement will further guard against bulkhead penetration.

Each remedial visit and repair should take approximately an hour and a half.  Of course, the repair is free of charge.

© 2019 Copyright StuttgartDNA.com.  All Rights Reserved.

Please share your COMMENTS with everyone by scrolling down to the “LEAVE A REPLY” space below at the very bottom of this page.  Your input is highly valued by us and much appreciated!

February 2019 Porsche USA sales

The StuttgartDNA Team
-
0
February 2019 Porsche USA sales

February 2019 Porsche USA sales registered Stuttgart’s ongoing upward regional sales trend — February USA sales of 4,826 vehicles exceeded last February’s efforts by a rosy 10.1 percent.  2019 kicks off two positive months so far, according to Porsche Cars North America (PCNA).

February 2019 Porsche USA sales: Seen here is a chart spreadsheet outlining Porsche's February 2019 Porsche USA sales. Source: PCNA
Source: PCNA

What PCNA did not mention for whatever reason was that Porsche enjoyed an 11.4 percent increase, year-over-year.  Not too shabby.

The new Cayenne was leader of the month.  Porsche’s larger SUV yielded deliveries of 1,762 units, a remarkable 67.6 percent increase over February of 2018.  Who will be next in line?  It was Porsche stalwart and iconic 911 delivering 990 units, up a tasty 27.7 percent uptick.

“Our 191 U.S. Porsche dealer partners offer a tremendous customer experience,” noted Klaus Zellmer, President and CEO of PCNA.  “These customer relationships, combined with the fascination and product range of Porsche cars, are responsible for another stellar month.”

On the Porsche Approved Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) front, USA sales came in at 1,925 automobiles, an increase of 12.3 percent over last February’s respectable numbers.

© 2019 Copyright StuttgartDNA.com.  All Rights Reserved.

Please share your COMMENTS with everyone by scrolling down to the “LEAVE A REPLY” space below at the very bottom of this page.  Your input is highly valued by us as well as much appreciated!

Wimbledon champion Kerber tours Porsche Centre Dubai

The StuttgartDNA Team
-
0
Wimbledon champion Kerber tours Porsche Centre Dubai

Reigning Wimbledon champion Angelique Kerber breezed into Dubai recently.  Ahead of Ms. Kerber’s tournament play in the 2019 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, the principals and staff of Porsche Centre Dubai fêted the Porsche Ambassador and two-time Porsche Tennis Grand Prix winner at their state-of-the-art Porsche sales and service facilities.

Porsche Centre Dubai, Al Nabooda Automobiles LLC, is the official sponsor of the 2019 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.  So it is only fitting that the Porsche dealer hosted Ms. Kerber at their dealership.

Wimbledon champion Kerber tours Porsche Centre Dubai: Pictured here is Angelique Kerber taking a selfie in a 911 GT2 RS in Dubai. Credit: Porsche AGMs. Kerber’s brief Middle East sojourn coincides with Porsche AG’s latest announcement that it is extending its prosperous partnership with the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA).  This successful collaboration with the WTA involves the following:

  • Porsche renews its patronage as the WTA and WTA Finals’ official, exclusive automotive partner
  • Porsche will be the title partner of the qualification ranking to the season-ending championships, the “Porsche Race to Shenzhen”
Wimbledon champion Kerber tours Porsche Centre Dubai: Seen here is the smiling, comely Angelique Kerber behind the wheel of Porsche No. 1 at the Porsche Museum. Credit: Porsche AG
Angelique Kerber behind the wheel of Porsche No. 1 at the Porsche Museum. Credit: Porsche AG

Porsche has sponsored world-class women’s tennis for more than 40 years.  It began in 1978 when Porsche initially underwrote the very first Porsche Tennis Grand Prix.

The latest iteration is the 42nd annual Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, unfolding in the splendid setting of Stuttgart’s Porsche Arena this year from April 20 through April 28.

Always among many players’ top favorites among the WTA tournaments, the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix will host seven of the Top 10 players.  All current Grand Slam winners are also slated to participate.

© 2019 Copyright StuttgartDNA.com.  All Rights Reserved.

Please share your COMMENTS with everyone by scrolling down to the “LEAVE A REPLY” space below at the very bottom of this page.  Your input is highly valued by us as well as much appreciated!

January 2019 Porsche USA sales

The StuttgartDNA Team
-
0
January 2019 Porsche USA sales

January 2019 USA sales set another record — an all-time January record, in fact — with purchases of 5,419 automobiles.  Porsche Cars North America, Inc., (PCNA) just announced the 12.5 percent record increase over last January.  This latest “January best” arrives fresh on the heels of a record year in 2018.

January 2019 Porsche USA sales: This spreadsheet chart quantifies Porsche's January 2019 USA sales as outlined in the text of this accompanying article. Source: PCNA
Source: Porsche Cars North America (PCNA)

Ironically, in spite of these record sales numbers last month, the only two gainers in January 2019 were these:

  • Cayenne — now with increased horsepower, the Cayenne along with its newly added S and Turbo model variants already in dealer showrooms enjoyed a hefty 65.1 percent increase in deliveries to 2,150 vehicles compared to January 2018
  • 911 — the company icon weighed in at 1,101 units, enjoying a 29.1 percent gain over last January’s numbers of 853 cars

“We are grateful to see the year start strong for our 191 U.S. Porsche dealer partners,” stated Klaus Zellmer, President and CEO of PCNA.  “After celebrating 70 years of Porsche sports cars last year, this month’s record deliveries show that we are successfully combining our rich heritage with the innovation customers want today.”

Porsche Approved Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) sales in the States came in at 1,562 vehicles for the month of January.

© 2019 Copyright StuttgartDNA.com.  All Rights Reserved.

Please share your COMMENTS with everyone by scrolling down to the “LEAVE A REPLY” space below at the very bottom of this page.  Your input is highly valued by us and much appreciated!

What are “Porsche Drive” and “Porsche Host”?

Larry Domasin
-
0
What are “Porsche Drive” and “Porsche Host”?

Once upon a time, to experience the unique thrill of driving a Porsche you had to buy or lease — or steal — a Porsche.  Not anymore. 

Continue

Porsche wins 2018 WEC Fuji 6 Hours

The StuttgartDNA Team
-
0
Porsche wins 2018 WEC Fuji 6 Hours

Porsche wins 2018 WEC Fuji 6 Hours today, the fourth round of the 2018 World Endurance Championship (WEC).  Taking care of business at Japan’s historically treacherous Fuji Speedway, the Porsche GT Team emerged victorious at the end of the 6-hour race.

The No. 92 Porsche 911 RSR whooshed cross finish first in class, GTE-Pro, at the drop of the checkers.

Porsche also scored a “double play” of sorts:  newbie Project 1 team secured the top of the podium in GTE-Am class at the 2018 WEC Fuji 6 Hours this afternoon.  The No. 56 Project 1 Porsche 911 RSR garnered the win for both the team and for Porsche.

https://vimeo.com/294913675

Porsche Dominates the GTE-Pro Class at the 2018 Fuji 6 Hours

The GTE-Pro class this date consisted of ten vehicles offered up by five manufacturers vying for victory under shifting weather conditions; Aston Martin, BMW, Ferrari, Ford and Porsche.

Sharing the No. 92 510-hp Porsche 911 RSR and qualifying last in their classification, Michael Christensen (Denmark) and Kevin Estre (France) scrambled all the way up to the top of the podium in their GTE-Pro class – with impeccable class:

  • Track conditions were not ideal initially. Drizzle fell on and slimed the 2.84-mile / 4.563-kilometer racetrack in the first hour of the race.  Finally, a 30-minute safety-car event gradually dried the track.
  • Then the Porsche GT Team’s optimal set-up and clever pit-stop strategy allowed the Danish-French dynamic duo to get down to serious business after changing wets to slicks.
  • Methodically the No. 92 RSR picked off the frontrunners, one by one by one. With about an hour and a half left on the clock, Christensen finally muscled his way up to P1.
  • The crew shoehorned-in a driver change during the last pit stop, Estre anchoring the final stint. Once again, the Porsche GT Team’s timing was sheer perfection – with Estre finishing in first place.

Pictured here is the Porsche pit crew cheering the victorious No 92 parading down pit lane at WEC Fuji 6 Hrs Credit: Porsche AG“I’m incredibly happy about our victory,” gushed Estre in the afterglow of the awesome win.  “Our set-up was simply fantastic and the good braking performance was an important aspect of our success at Fuji.

“After we changed to slicks during the safety car phase early on in the race, our car set-up allowed us to brake later than the others and thus gain positions.  Our pit stop strategy also ran perfectly.”

Christensen seconded that emotion, and further elaborated on it:  “The changing weather and track conditions were a challenge, but we mastered them very well.  We changed to slicks earlier than the others and that was very probably a key factor for our success.”

Seen here is the pit crew with No 91 in this overhead shot at 2018 WEC. Creditt: Posche AGRichard Lietz (Austria) and Gianmaria Bruni (Italy) traded piloting duties in the No. 91 sister car.  By heartbreaking contrast, though, a fumbled pit stop and degrading tires in the latter laps took their toll.  The result was a dispiriting fifth-place finish.

Lietz, however, graciously put the whole weekend in philosophical perspective:  “First and foremost I’d like to congratulate the winners in the GTE-Pro and -Am categories here, and of course at the Petit Le Mans in the USA – a great weekend for Porsche, but unfortunately not for our car.

“We had several problems, which we now need to analyze and, of course, fix,” Mr. Lietz continued. “There was certainly nothing wrong with the performance of the drivers or the speed of the 911 RSR.”

No matter.  Their Fuji result also earned the No. 91 crucial championship points – points that have extended Porsche’s lead in both the manufacturers’ and drivers’ championship classifications.

Porsche wins 2018 WEC Fuji 6 Hours: Pictured here ar the Nos. 91 and 92 Porsche 911 RSR battling traffic in the Sss's. Credit: Porsche AG“We almost always made the right decisions during the race and the car was good and fast,” asserted Alexander Stehlig, Program Manager of Factory GT Motorsports.  The No. 92 car drove a flawless race.”

“Our No. 91 unfortunately had problems during the pit stop.  On top of that, the balance wasn’t great in the last stint.  But all in all, we’re very satisfied.”

Stehlig ought to be quite content on balance.  The Porsche GT Factory Team not only put in a strong performance in spite of circumstances, but the entire field of Porsche GTE-Am privateer teams also demonstrated even grander Porsche excellence.

Porsche Also Rules the GTE-Am Class at the 2018 Fuji 6 Hours

Porsche wins 2018 WEC Fuji 6 Hours: Pictured here in triumphant glory is the Project 1 Team celebrating their maiden WEC triumph atop the 2018 WEC Fuji 6 Hr podium. Credit: Porsche AGThe Project 1 Team, new to WEC, scored its maiden first-place win in GTE-Am.  Pilots Patrick Lindsey (USA) and Egidio Perfetti (Norway) shared the No. 56 Porsche 911 RSR with all-around nice guy and veteran Porsche Works driver Jörg Bergmeister (Germany) (l-r above).

Bergmeister drove the win home, crossing the finish line under checkers.

“At first the race ran like the entire weekend:  Not so satisfactorily,” Bergmeister confessed.  “We had contact, a spin and had to change the door.  But midway through the race the tide turned in our favor, and we brought home a pleasing victory.

“It’s the first WEC win for me and also for Project 1.  That’s a great step for us in terms of collecting points.  We’re all happy with this and it’s going in the right direction.”

Porsche wins 2018 WEC Fuji 6 Hours: No. 88 Dempsey-Proton Racing Porcshe 911 RSR on track. Credit: Porsche AGDempsey Proton Racing’s No. 88 Porsche 911 RSR and its pilots enjoyed their first podium.  Porsche Young Professional Matteo Cairoli (Italy), Satoshi Hoshino (Japan) and Giorgio Roda (Italy) were all thrilled – and thrilling – in their runner-up triumph – contributing to Porsche’s one-two punch in GTE-Am.

“A good result for us.  The first podium in the WEC season,” Cairoli celebrated.  “I very much enjoyed driving the 911 RSR here.  It felt really great – especially the overtaking maneuvers and duels out on the track.  I was particularly impressed by my teammate Hoshino.  This was only his second time in the RSR and he was really fast.”

Porsche wins 2018 WEC Fuji 6 Hours: Pictured here is the Gulf Racing No. 86 Porsche 911 RSR out in front on the Fuji track. Credit: Porsche AGThe Gulf Racing Team and its No. 86 Porsche 911 RSR also put in a fine effort.  Sharing driver’s duties with Michael Wainwright (Great Britain) and Ben Barker (Great Britain), Porsche Junior Thomas Preining (Austria) stinted the car last in his debut.  He finished in fifth place.

Preining summed it all up:  “That was a good first experience in the WEC.  At one point we were even leading with our team, and my teammates did a fantastic job.  At the end I drove a double stint and managed to work my way up to fifth place with our RSR.”

Porsche wins 2018 WEC Fuji 6 Hours: Dempsey Proton Racing's No. 77 Porsche 911 RSR is pictured here out in front of the pack on the Fuji track. Credit: Porsche AGDempsey Proton Racing’s second car, the No. 77 Porsche 911 RSR, finished in eighth place.  Porsche Young Professional Matt Campbell (Australia), Christian Ried (Germany) and Porsche Junior Julien Andlauer (France) piloted the No. 77 RSR.

An unscheduled repairs pit stop tumbled the racecar down through the field.  Hence the 8th-place finish.

Nonetheless, the No. 77 car and team garnered critical championship points.  Therefore, they retain their lead position in the GTE-Am class championship.

“I’m a bit frustrated,” confided Campbell.  “In the middle of the race we were looking promising, we were fast and within striking distance of the leaders.  Unfortunately an electrical problem cost us 25 laps.”

Andlauer picked up the story on that critical aspect of their race:  “I could only rejoin the race 25 laps later.  The car then felt good again – the balance and the speed were excellent.

“It’s a pity because no one made a mistake; it was the technology that hampered us.  There’s nothing you can do about that.  I think we could have won, but that’s racing.”

https://vimeo.com/295010207

 

Round five of the FIA WEC World Sports Car Championship is next up, this time in Shanghai, China, on November 16, 2018.

© 2018-2019 Copyright StuttgartDNA.com.  All Rights Reserved.

Please share your COMMENTS with everyone by scrolling down to the “LEAVE A REPLY” space below at the very bottom of this page.  Your input is highly valued by us and much appreciated!

Race result

GTE-Pro class

  1. Christensen/Estre (DK/F), Porsche 911 RSR, 207 laps
  2. Blomquist/da Costa (S/P), BMW M8 GTE, 207 laps
  3. Priaulx/Tincknell (GB/GB), Ford GT, 207 laps
  4. Pier Guidi/Calado (I/GB), Ferrari 488 GTE EVO, 207 laps
  5. Lietz/Bruni (A/I), Porsche 911 RSR, 207 laps
  6. Mücke/Pla (D/F), Ford GT, 206 laps
  7. Sorensen/Thiim (DK/DK), Aston Martin Vantage GTE, 206 laps
  8. Tomczyk/Catsburg (D/NL), BMW M8 GTE, 206 laps
  9. Lynn/Martin (GB/B), Aston Martin Vantage GTE, 206 laps
  10. Rigon/Bird (I/GB), Ferrari 488 GTE EVO, 202 laps

GTE-Am class

  1. Bergmeister/Lindsey/Perfetti (D/USA/N), Porsche 911 RSR, 201 laps
  2. Hoshino/Roda/Cairoli (J/I/I), Porsche 911 RSR, 201 laps
  3. Yoluc/Adam/Eastwood (TR/GB/GB), Aston Martin Vantage GTE, 201 laps
  4. Dalla Lana/Lamy/Lauda (CDN/P/A), Aston Martin Vantage GTE, 201 laps
  5. Wainwright/Barker/Preining (GB/GB/A), Porsche 911 RSR, 201 laps
  6. Flohr/Castellacci/Fisichella (CH/I/I), Ferrari 488 GTE, 200 laps
  7. Mok/Sawa/Griffin (MAL/J/IRL), Ferrari 488 GTE, 200 laps
  8. Ried/Andlauer/Campbell (D/F/AUS), Porsche 911 RSR, 176 laps
  9. Ishikawa/Beretta/Cheever (J/MC/I), Ferrari 488 GTE, 14 laps

All results can be found at the following site:  http://fiawec.alkamelsystems.com

Porsche wins 2018 Petit Le Mans

The StuttgartDNA Team
-
0
Porsche wins 2018 Petit Le Mans

Today Porsche wins 2018 Petit Le Mans, the final round of the 2018 IMSA Weathertech SportsCar Championship.  In Braselton, Georgia, at famed Road Atlanta, the Porsche GT Team emerged victorious at the end of a grueling 10-hour endurance marathon.

Porsche wins 2018 Petit Le Mans: This photo depicts the wall-to-wall throng, a sea of humanity, crowded together on the grid at the 2018 Petit Le Mans. Credit: Porsche AGPorsche Finishes First in GTLM Class at the 2018 Motul Petit Le Mans

The No. 911 crossed the finish line first in class at the checkers to win the 2018 Motul Petit Le Mans.  This clinched the Porsche GT Team’s third GTLM class win of the season.

Porsche wins 2018 Petit Le Mans: pictured here are the ecstatic Makowiecki, Tandy and Pilet celebrating at the top of 2018 Petit Le Mans podium, with first-place trophies in hand, held high above their heads. Credit: Porsche AG
Makowiecki, Tandy and Pilet (l-r) at the top of the 2018 Petit Le Mans podium. Credit: Porsche AG

Piloted by  Frédéric Makowiecki (France), Nick Tandy (Great Britain) and Patrick Pilet (France), the No. 911 510-hp Porsche 911 RSR began the race P5 in class.  Then to all Porschephiles’ delight, the No. 911 RSR methodically worked its way up through the field.

Although, No. 911’s steady advance was like swimming against the raging current of brutal competition in the GTLM class, both today as well as throughout the entire neck-and-neck season.  This was fierce determination to just win, baby — in tandem with perfect team tactics.  Result:  A near-flawless race.

Porsche wins 2018 Petit Le Mans: Seen here at speed is the winning No. 911 on the Road Atlanta track curves. Credit: Porsche AG“It was a gripping race with highs and lows,” conceded Pascal Zurlinden, Director of GT Factory Motorsport.  “Minor errors on the racetrack cost us some time, but with perfect strategies and tire choices, we made it to the front of the field.

“After victories in Sebring and at Le Mans and now Petit Le Mans — the entire team simply did a perfect job,” Mr. Zurlinden continued, “and today we extended the contract with the squad for another three years. Now we’ll prepare for next season.”

Porsche wins 2018 Petit Le Mans: Posing here for a large group photo are the Porsche Motorsport GT Team drivers and crew with both 911 RSR cars in tribute Mobil 1 livery. Credit: Porsche AGThe No. 911 racecar was clad in legendary blue, red and orange Mobil 1 livery stripes (as was the sister No. 912 car).  This livery was chosen to evoke fond memories of the famed and fierce-looking 1998 911 GT1-98 from 20 years earlier.  We’re glad the result lived up to the nostalgic image.

So the third act of the 21st Don Panoz-originated Petit Le Mans cast the No. 911 in the role of grand-finale hero of this perennial epic.  That is when Makowiecki asserted Porsche’s dominance.  With about three hours left in the race’s countdown, Makowiecki scaled the podium’s precipice to a provisional P1 and never looked down from there.

Porsche wins 2018 Petit Le Mans: Here we're getting a glimpse of the frantic No. 911 driver change in the Road Atlanta pits. Credit: Porsche AGThen Tandy grabbed the baton for his anchor stint to glory — ultimately rocketing across the finish line to win his GTLM class, with a cozy 11.443-second margin down to the second step of the podium.

“What a crazy race!”  Nick Tandy called out.  “We were relegated from the front to the back and then came back to the front.  When you’re a lap down and still manage to win, it shows just how brilliantly the entire team worked.  Our focus was on ensuring that the car was still fast in cool temperatures at the end.  And it worked perfectly.  And that was the key to victory.”

Porsche wins 2018 Petit Le Mans: Seen here is the jubilant, celebrating No. 911 victory team after winning the race. Credit: Porsche AGDr. Frank-Steffen Walliser, Vice President of Motorsport and GT Cars, voiced his own excitement:  “Patrick laid the foundations for this success with a strong double stint.  Nick and Fred then brought it home… Petit Le Mans was a huge race.  This victory fits perfectly with the successes that came just in time for Porsche’s 70th anniversary.”

Porsche wins 2018 Petit Le Mans: Seen here from its right side is the No. 912 speeding down the track, with a blurry German flag in f.g. Credit: Porsche AGUnfortunately, the No. 912 sister car wasn’t as lucky.

Shared by Laurens Vanthoor (Belgium), Earl Bamber (New Zealand) and newcomer Mathieu Jaminet (France), the No. 912 racecar commenced the race as a serious contender for victory across the first 71 laps.

However, an early puncture threw a monkey wrench in it all.  Then a drive-through penalty sounded the death knell, tumbling the trio headlong down the field.  The No. 912 racecar tried every angle.  All for naught.

That’s because the sickly relentless GTLM competition thwarted all noble attempts.  Despite this tenacious resistance, though, the No. 912 racecar persevered to finish only one minute behind the winning No. 911 sister car.

Kudos.  Not bad.  Not bad at all.

“We definitely had a winning car today.  That’s why it was extremely disappointing to receive a drive-through penalty,” vented Bamber, with some understandable emotion.  “It ruined our chances of winning.”

Porsche Finishes Just Shy of the Podium in GTD Class at the 2018 Motul Petit Le Mans

Meanwhile, Porsche in the GTD class experienced similarly mind-blowing melodramas.

Veteran sole-American Porsche Works driver — as well as all-around good guy and family man — Patrick Long (USA) fought the good fight in GTD alongside Porsche Selected Driver Christina Nielsen from Denmark and Germany’s Robert Renauer.

Porsche wins 2018 Petit Le Mans: Pictured here is a speedy driver change in No. 58's Road Atlanta pit box for the Wright Motorsports 911 GT3 R of Long, Nielsen, Renauer. Credit: Porsche AGNot unlike the Factory No. 912 team, the trio in their No. 58 Wright Motorsports 500-hp Porsche 911 GT3 R also suffered a drive-through penalty.  It too spelled curtains for the team, which finished a hair off the podium in fourth place.

Porsche wins 2018 Petit Le Mans: Seen here is a photograph of the black-and-red No. 73 Park Place car, viewed from its left side, on the Road Atlanta track during the 2018 Petit Le Mans. Credit: Porsche AGBut the worst luck of all befell the No. 73 GTD-class Porsche 911 GT3 R.  Fielded by Park Place Motorsports for the 2018 Petit Le Mans, the No. 73 car grudgingly retired early in the fray after only 122 laps.  Wolf Henzler (Germany) shared the grief with Americans Timothy Pappas and Spencer Pumpelly.

© 2018-2019 Copyright StuttgartDNA.com.  All Rights Reserved.

Please share your COMMENTS with everyone by scrolling down to the “LEAVE A REPLY” space below at the very bottom of this page.  Your input is highly valued by us and much appreciated!

 

Race result

GTLM class

  1. Tandy/Pilet/Makowiecki (GB/F/F), Porsche 911 RSR, 419 laps
  2. Milner/Gavin/Fässler (USA/GB/CH), Chevrolet Corvette C7.R, 419 laps
  3. Krohn/Edwards/Mostert (FIN/USA/AUS), BMW M8 GTE, 419 laps
  4. Sims/De Phillippi/Auberlen (GB/USA/USA), BMW M8 GTE, 419 laps
  5. Briscoe/Westbrook/Dixon (AUS/GB/USA), Ford GT, 419 laps
  6. Vanthoor/Bamber/Jaminet (B/NZ/F), Porsche 911 RSR, 419 laps
  7. Hand/Müller/Bourdais (USA/D/F), Ford GT, 418 laps
  8. Magnussen/Garcia/Fässler (DK/E/CH), Chevrolet Corvette C7.R, 417 laps
  9. Vilander/Molina/Bertolini (FIN/E/I), Ferrari 488 GTE, 416 laps

GTD class

  1. MacNeil/Serra/Jeannette (USA/BRA/USA), Ferrari 488 GT3, 407 laps
  2. Legge/Parente/Hindman (GB/P/USA), Acura NSX GT3, 407 laps
  3. Sellers/Snow/Lewis (USA/USA/USA), Lamborghini Huracan GT3, 406 laps
  4. Long/Nielsen/Renauer (USA/DK/D), Porsche 911 GT3 R, 406 laps
  5. Henzler/Pumpelly/Pappas (D/USA/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 R, 122 laps

Full results are available on:  http://results.imsa.com

1...91011...20Page 10 of 20