After a triumphant 2024 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season for Porsche Penske Motorsport during which team secured five wins and seven further podium positions in the GTP class on its way to finishing first and second in the GTP Drivers and Teams standings, Roger Penske’s North Carolina-based squad is now preparing to defend its titles in what promises to be a highly competitive season.
The team returns for the opening round of the 2025season, the Rolex 24 at Daytona, with a revised driver-line up for its two-car entry. In the #6 Porsche 963 the regular duo of Mathieu Jaminet and Matt Campbell will be joined for Daytona by French pilot Kévin Estre. In the sister #7 entry, current drivers champion Felipe Nasr is joined by Nick Tandy and, for Daytona, by Belgian ace Laurens Vanthoor.
The two Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963s will be joined on the IMSA grid by two customer entries. Proton Competition returns with its #5 entry, driven by Julien Andlauer and Neel Jani while the #85 JDC-Miller Motorsports Porsche 963 will see Porsche factory driver Pascal Wehrlein and Italian pilot Gianmaria Bruni joined Tijmen van der Helm and Bryce Aron.
Director Factory Motorsport LMDh Urs Kuratle was delighted with Porsche Team Penske’s performance at the Roar Before the 24.
“We made consistent progress during the Roar in Daytona and are now fully prepared for the season’s first race week,” said Kuratle. “Since its debut two years ago, the Porsche 963 has established itself as the mist successful vehicle in its class. We are the reigning champions in both the IMSA Championship and the FIA WEC. Moreover our 2024 victory proved that our team can excel under the unique conditions of the 24 Hours of Daytona.”
For Managing Director of Porsche Penske Motorsport Jonthan Diuguid, work carried out in 2024 has put the team in the perfect position to compete for championship honours again this season.
“The past twelve months have flown by,” said Diuguid.” A lot has happened since our victory a year ago. We are entering this year’s race exceptionally well-prepared. Our sessions during the test in November 2024 and the Road last weekend were positive. There were a few minor technical issues here and there, but that’s exactly what test sessions are for: resolving those kinds of things. I’m optimistic as we head into the upcoming race.”
Mathieu Jaminet, who finished off the podium at 2024’s running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona, is focused on the race win to kick off his season.
“After our success in 2024, we enter the new season with great confidence and high ambitions,” he said. “Last year, our sister car won Daytona and now we aim to lead the No. 6 car to the top. Matt and I are back as duo this season and Kévin will support us for the opener.
“We’re set to be strong! Staying out of trouble early on and attacking at the end is always the key at Daytona.”
Track action for the 2025 Rolex 24 at Daytona gets underway at 10:05 local time on Thursday January the 23rd with the first practice session for the IMSA WeatherTech field.
