The Porsche Esports Team has secured second place in the GTE category at the virtual 24 Hours of Le Mans. Porsche Junior Laurin Heinrich, Martin Krönke (both Germany), Mitchell deJong from the USA and Mack Bakkum (Netherlands) were just 34 seconds off winning this classic. Third place went to the 911 RSR fielded by Proton Competition driven by the Australian Porsche works driver Matt Campbell, among others. This is the second time the virtual edition of the French endurance classic has been contested after 2020. The Porsche Esports Team tackled the race on the rFactor 2 simulation platform as the defending champions. Once again, experienced professional racing drivers from the real world of motorsport shared the cockpits of the ca. 510 PS GTE sports cars with the world’s best sim racers.

“That was an incredible 24-hour race. It was gripping from the first to the last second,” stated Marco Ujhasi, Manager Esports at Porsche Motorsport. “We gave everything and got more out it than was actually possible. The drivers did a brilliant job. Unfortunately, we experienced some bad luck with our No. 92 car when it was hit – this 911 RSR might have offered us an interesting strategic alternative. All in all, we’re satisfied, even though it’s a bit disappointing with such a close result. After our intense preparations with almost 10,000 practice laps, the team made a huge effort and demonstrated a tremendous fighting spirit. The encouragement and support were incredible. Congratulations to the M8 GTE of BMW-Team Redline. They drove a flawless race and won.”

The No. 91 nine-eleven was one of the hot favourites for a class win right up until the end of the 367-lap race on the 13.626-kilometre Circuit des 24 Heures. The 911 RSR was able to offset the slight disadvantage of its shorter 14-lap stints between refuelling stops compared to the BMW-Team Redline’s M8 GTE with faster lap times. After six and half hours, entering the pit lane too fast resulted in the stop-and-go penalty that cost the Porsche 47 seconds – a deficit that the vehicle was unable to make up over the remaining 18 hours, despite full attack and a flawless performance.

The virtual No. 92 Porsche experienced less luck. The 911 RSR driven by the current Porsche TAG Heuer Esports champion Joshua Rogers (Australia), Ayhancan Güven (Turkey) and Tommy Östgaard (Norway) – the winners of the 2020 race – as well as the American Indy Car driver Sage Karam had at times led the GTE-class during the night. However, just before dawn, the quartet’s charge came to an early end when Östgaard was shunted by an LMP2 vehicle in the fast Porsche Curves. After hitting the barriers hard, the car was forced in retirement with extensive damages.

Third place went to Proton Competition’s No. 77 virtual Porsche 911 RSR, which was entered by Coanda Esports. At the start of the race, the vehicle was handed a drive-through penalty after a jump start and consequently lost ground. Porsche works driver Matt Campbell (Australia), the Dutchmen Loek Hartog and Kevin van Dooren as well as Frenchman Jeremy Bouteloup put in a spirited charge through the field. After duelling lap after lap with the No. 51 Ferrari, with two hours left on the clock, they moved into third place and ultimately claimed the third podium step. Proton’s No. 88 sister car lost four laps after a rule infringement on Saturday evening but still finished twelfth in the GTE category. The No. 87 Porsche of GR Wolves Racing took the flag in P11, with both of Project 1 xBPM’s cars finishing the 24-hour race in positions 14 and 15.

Comments on the race
Mitchell de Jong (Porsche Esports Team, 911 RSR #91): “To contest the virtual 24 Hours of Le Mans with these teammates was simply fantastic. Everyone did their very best, and I’m very happy with the preparation for this event. We really invested a lot of hours. Such a close result puts a bit of damper on our spirits but I’m still pleased with second on the podium.”

Mack Backum (Porsche Esports Team, 911 RSR #91): “The past two days were very eventful. I’m very pleased with how we’ve developed as a team – everyone got stuck in and ultimately drove an excellent race. Obviously, we’d have preferred to win so second place was a bit of a disappointment, but it’s certainly nothing to be ashamed of. It’s a great result. Two Porsche on the podium – that’s fantastic.”

Laurin Heinrich (Porsche Esports Team, 911 RSR #91): “It was a very exciting weekend for me – first the start of the Dubai 24-hour race on Friday, then the virtual 24-hour race here at the Coanda Esports HQ in Gronau. Unfortunately, things didn’t go so well for me in Dubai, so second place at Le Mans is a huge success of which we can be proud. Thanks for the chance to compete!”

Tommy Östgaard (Porsche Esports Team, 911 RSR #92): “Unfortunately, an LMP2 car shunted us out of contention in the Porsche Curves. It tried to overtake me on the outside, but then switched suddenly to my line and hit my car. I veered straight into the barriers. The engine was damaged so much that it threw our No. 92 out of the race. I’m bitterly disappointed, but sometimes these things happen in racing.”

Joshua Rogers (Porsche Esports Team, 911 RSR #92): “It’s such a shame we had to retire early. At the end of the day, though, we can be proud of what we’d achieved up until that time – in the race itself, but above all, in our preparation for this event. Now we simply have to bite the bullet and we’re already looking ahead to next year’s event here.”

Ayhancan Güven (Porsche Esports Team, 911 RSR #92): “Our goal was to repeat our victory from 2020. I drove the first stint and was running in third place. By the midway mark, we had even taken the lead – victory was within our grasp. But when the LMP2 hit us we had to park the car. As the Porsche Esports Team, we did a good job and gave our utmost. There are some things you simply can’t control. We’ll return next year even stronger.”

Matt Campbell (Proton Competition, 911 RSR #92): “I’m very happy with third place in the GTE class. Our start wasn’t easy and we were still in 14th place after the first stint. Still, we fought our way up through the field, despite being hampered by a lot of minor things. We worked our way through these. Two Porsche on the podium is a cool result. It was a great experience for me to contest this event with my teammates at the Coanda Esports Hub.”

GTE class result
1. Van Buren/Colombo/Bonito/Siggy (NL/I/ISLO), BMW M8 GTE, 367 laps
2. Heinrich/DeJong/Backum/Krönke (D/USA/NL/D), Porsche 911 RSR, 367 laps
3. Campbell/Hartog/Van Dooren/Bouteloup (AUS/NL/NL/F), Porsche 911 RSR, 366 laps
11. Gamble/Malykihin/Puschke/Hakkinnen (GB/BY/D/SF), Porsche 911 RSR, 361 laps
12. Pereira/Furuseth/Collins/Warren (L/N/GB/AUS), Porsche 911 RSR, 361 laps
14. Broadbent/Buttler/Beelen/Neuendorf (GB/D/NL/D), Porsche 911 RSR, 359 laps
15. Pera/Hillebrand/Siara/Peev (I/D/PL/BG), Porsche 911 RSR, 358 laps