Porsche Penske Motorsport took its first total win of the season with the Petit Le Mans victory on Saturday because the #6 Porsche 963 of Laurens Vanthoor, Kévin Estre and Matt Campbell received a chaotic 10-hour IMSA season finale at Michelin Raceway Highway Atlanta.
Laurens Vanthoor held off the #24 BMW M Hybrid V8 of Sheldon van der Linde, Dries Vanthoor and Robin Frijns by simply 1.205 seconds after a late restart, securing Porsche’s first total victory at Petit Le Mans with a prototype.
The race featured 16 full-course cautions, a red-flag interruption and heavy rain within the early phases, with the GTP order repeatedly reshuffled all through the ten hours.
The #6 Porsche moved into competition within the closing phases and made its ultimate pit cease with round 50 minutes remaining, taking up vitality and contemporary left-side Michelin tires. Vanthoor briefly ran off observe on his out lap however recovered to retain the lead.
The #7 Porsche Penske Motorsport 963 had additionally been operating on the entrance for a lot of the race, however its problem ended with round 90 minutes remaining. Felipe Nasr made contact whereas following Vanthoor and the #77 Porsche 911 GT3 R, sending the #7 into an airborne crash on the entrance straight. Nasr was in a position to climb from the automotive on his personal.
The #31 Motion Specific Racing Cadillac V-Collection.R, in the meantime, remained in competition for the general victory deep into the race earlier than Earl Bamber was concerned involved with the #23 Aston Martin with 19 minutes remaining. The Cadillac was despatched into the Flip 1 boundaries, ending its race.
Aitken had already secured the GTP drivers’ championship by beginning the race, whereas Motion Specific and Cadillac had additionally clinched the groups’ and producers’ titles. That left the ultimate battle for the race win between Vanthoor and van der Linde. Vanthoor managed the ultimate laps whereas saving gasoline and navigating visitors to safe the victory.
“I do not know how we pulled this off. All of us did an ideal job: Porsche, the Porsche Penske Motorsport group, and us drivers within the cockpit,” Vanthoor mentioned. “A tough season is thus coming to an finish with an absolute spotlight. After this nail-biter at Highway Atlanta, I’m exhausted and really completely satisfied.”
The victory was notably vital for Estre, who claimed his first IMSA win, whereas Campbell ended his Porsche manufacturing facility profession with the victory.
“What an exquisite night! We within the #6 automotive have had a lot unhealthy luck this season. We’ve lastly secured a giant win,” Estre mentioned. “My teammates had been completely unbelievable at present. A particular thanks to Laurens Vanthoor, who put up an excellent combat in the course of the ultimate stint. So far as I’m involved, he’s the person of the race!”
For Porsche, the victory accomplished an endurance-race sweep of Daytona, Sebring and Highway Atlanta in 2026. The producer additionally secured the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup producers’, groups’ and drivers’ championships.
The #24 BMW completed second, whereas the #40 Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac of Louis Deletraz, Jordan Taylor and Colton Herta accomplished the GTP podium after the #60 Acura was compelled to pit for vitality on the ultimate lap.
Solely 6 of the 11 GTP entries completed the race.