The two Porsche 963s of the Porsche Penske Motorsport works team suffered major setbacks at the 61st edition of the 24 Hours of Daytona. The new hybrid prototype impressed with strong performance on its debut in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. However, both vehicles dropped out of the leading group due to technical defects. After repairs, some of which were extensive, the two driver crews in the 500 kW (680 hp) GTP racing cars nevertheless scored important points in the North American championship. In the GTD categories, the new Porsche 911 GT3 R had almost no chance due to an unfavorable classification in the "Balance of Performance".

After a promising start with Nick Tandy and Felipe Nasr in the cockpits of the two Porsche 963, the works team had to accept the first setback on Saturday evening at 7 p.m.: A replacement of the high-voltage battery threw the number 7 car back 20 laps. As the race progressed, damage to the cooling system also occurred, which made it necessary to visit the Porsche Penske Motorsport garage again.

The number 6 car, which Tandy had quickly moved from ninth on the grid into the front group in the early stages, subsequently delivered a strong performance. During the night, the Porsche returnee and his teammates Mathieu Jaminet from France and Dane Cameron from the USA even led the race at times. A spin by Tandy, overall Le Mans winner from 2015 in the Porsche 919 Hybrid, led to a deficit of three laps. On Sunday morning the crew sounded the big attack again. With top lap times, the Porsche 963 worked its way back up to the top, but then all hopes of a top result were dashed due to a gearbox defect. While the Tandy/Jaminet/Cameron car had to retire prematurely, Matt Campbell's (Australia) sister car crossed.

"We're disappointed, no question about it," summarizes Thomas Laudenbach. The head of Porsche Motorsport adds: “After just over five hours, the number 7 was out of the fight for victory due to an issue with the high-voltage system. Damage later occurred to the drive train of car number 6. We had some problems, but at the same time we were able to learn a lot. The good thing is that we know where to start and what we need to work on. We are now systematically preparing for the next race at Sebring in March.”

"First of all, congratulations to Acura for winning the first race of the new GTP era," explains Urs Kuratle, Head of Factory Motorsport LMDh. “We were hoping for more, mainly because we were able to set a great pace at times. Thanks to Multimatic and all other partners: we have come a long way together and have finally seen the start of the new GTP class. This is excellent for the entire racing scene. We had to cope with a lot of damage this weekend of all days. I would like to thank my colleagues in Weissach and at the team locations in Mooresville and Mannheim for their tireless efforts. We would have deserved a better placement, but we've learned a lot and will now implement this consistently.”

New Porsche 911 GT3 R in GT classes without realistic chances
In the GTD Pro class, a difficult situation had already emerged for the customer teams with the new Porsche 911 GT3 R in practice and qualifying. The competition in the GT categories with numerous vehicle concepts from different manufacturers is brought to the same level with the help of the so-called balance of performance. The rule guards of the IMSA series did not succeed in this at the season opener in Daytona: The new GT3 vehicle from Weissach was cut so severely in terms of engine performance, among other things, that the total of seven vehicles in the two classes had almost no chance.

The reigning GTD Pro Champions from Pfaff Motorsports reached the finish line in fifth place after a strong fighting performance with works driver Laurens Vanthoor (Belgium) as well as Klaus Bachler from Austria and Patrick Pilet from France. The identical vehicle from MDK Motorsports finished sixth. In the GTD category, the number 16 Wright Motorsports car, the best-placed Porsche, finished the race in ninth place.

"The starting position was difficult due to the classification of our Porsche 911 GT3 R," says Thomas Laudenbach, looking at the situation of the Porsche customer teams in the GT classes. “Nevertheless, all teams fought as hard as they could – that deserves the utmost respect. Pfaff Motorsports finished fifth in the GTD Pro class, just one lap down: hats off! That's the best morality in sport. Even if we can't be up there with the front runners, we still don't give up, but fight to the end, take the points with us and continue at the next race."

“It was a turbulent start to the season that we would have liked to have ended with a different result,” comments Sebastian Golz, Project Manager Porsche 911 GT3 R. “Everyone tried to get the best out of the package. Seven customer cars started, six saw the checkered flag – that alone is a good debut for the new 911 GT3 R. However, the result is of secondary importance this weekend, we were only able to limit the damage. The gaze is directed to the front. Sebring will be demanding. We are taking all the experiences we have had about the new vehicle from Daytona and will be working with the organizer on an adjusted BoP.”

The second round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship starts on March 18 in Sebring (USA). The day before, the Porsche 963 will make its debut at the same place in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC).

Driver's comments on the race
Nick Tandy (Porsche 963 #6): “This event was great, but also had a great impact on character. There was a lot of light, but also shadows. Our pace was strong, but we still have a lot of homework to do. That's probably normal with a new car in a new class, with a new team and new drivers. Nevertheless, the disappointment outweighs the first moment. We now have to try to focus on the positive aspects as quickly as possible – and there were quite a few of them!”

Felipe Nasr (Porsche 963 #7):“Unfortunately, several defects set us back – first the battery, then the cooling. Our engine overheated, we had to go back to the garage. We learned a lot in this race. We will certainly make progress and now have much more knowledge to draw from than before. The team never gave up, neither did we drivers. This time it wasn't enough to succeed. Hopefully next time.”

Klaus Bachler (Porsche 911 GT3 R #9):“If someone had told us before the race that we would drive fifth place in the GTD Pro class despite being classified, I would have found that very cool. The team did a great job, we were still on the same lap as the first-place finishers. From this point of view we can be very satisfied with the result. It was my first race with Paff Motorsports, I had a lot to learn. We are now starting the season with a good point result. I'm sure that we can fight for a class win again in Sebring.”

Jan Heylen (Porsche 911 GT3 R #16):“I am very proud of Team Wright Motorsports and what we have achieved. The 24-hour race was very long for all of us – mainly because we didn't really have a chance. Nevertheless, we finished among the top ten in our class and were able to collect important points for the championship. I hope things go better for us in Sebring.”

Results race
GTP class:
1st Blomqvist/Braun/Castroneves/Pagenaud (UK/USA/BR/F), Acura ARX-06 #60, 783 laps
2nd Taylor /Albuquerque/Deletraz/Hartley (USA/P/CH/NZ), Acura ARX-06 #10, 783 laps
3. Bourdais/van der Zande/Dixon (F/NL/NZ), Cadillac V-LMDh #01, 783 Laps
7. Campbell/Nasr/Christensen (AUS/BR/DK), Porsche 963 #7, 749 laps
DNF. Tandy/Jaminet/Cameron (UK/F/USA), Porsche 963 #6, 700 laps

GTD Pro-Class:
1. MacNeil/Juncadella/Gounon/Engel (USA/E/B/D), Mercedes AMG GT3 #79 , 729 laps
2. Garcia/Taylor/Milner (E/USA/USA), Corvette C8.R GTD #3, 729 laps
3. Hawksworth/Barnicoat/Conway (UK/UK/UK), Lexus RC-F GT3 #14 , 729 laps
5. Bachler/Pilet/Vanthoor (A/F/B), Porsche 911 GT3 R #9, 728 laps
6. Kvamme/Estep/Magnussen/Hart /USA/USA/DK/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 R #53, 717 laps

GTD class:
1. De Angelis/Sörensen/James/Turner (CDN/DK/USA/UK), Aston Martin Vantage GT3 #27, 729 laps
2. Potter/Lally/Pumpelly/Thiim (USA/ USA/USA/DK), Aston Martin Vantage GT3 #44, 729 laps
3. Iribe/Schandorff/Millroy/Kirchhöfer (USA/DK/UK/CH), McLaren 720S GT3 #70, 729 laps
9. Hardwick/Heylen/Robichon/Olsen (USA/B/CDN/N), Porsche 911 GT3 R #16, 723 laps
11. Brynjolfsson/Hindman/Root/Estre (USA/USA/USA/F), Porsche 911 GT3 R #77, 719 laps
14. Hyett/Jeannette/Priaulx/Tincknell (USA/USA/UK/UK ), Porsche 911 GT3 R #80, 710 laps
16. Metni/van Berlo/Evans/Andlauer (USA/NL/NZ/F), Porsche 911 GT3 R #91, 699 laps
DNF. Brule/Udell/Davis/Bleekemolen (USA/USA/USA/NL), Porsche 911 GT3 R #92, 278 laps