After a difficult start to the season, Porsche is looking for a rebound at Spa-Francorchamps

But where has the Porsche 2024? Once dominant, the Stuttgart firm has lost its shine this season in WEC, with disappointing results in Qatar and Imola. The American-German team did not do better than an 8th place in the race, achieved by the Porsche 963 n°6 at Imola after a laborious race. Result: in the Constructors' Championship, Porsche is in 6th place with only 12 points on the clock, far, very far from Ferrari and his 92 points scored in the first two meetings of the season.

For Porsche, the rebound is not only expected: it is obligatory in Belgium for the 6 Hours of Spa, in order to maintain all its chances of the title... and to launch a positive dynamic in view of the 24H of Le Mans (June 14-15), the big deadline of the season in Endurance. “Spa is an iconic circuit that seems to suit the Porsche 963 perfectly, explains Jonathan Diuguid, Managing Director of Porsche Penske Motorsport. It has been resurfaced since last year's race and, based on our recent testing, the track's grip has increased and this will translate into faster lap times. We are looking forward to the 6 Hours of Spa. (…) We intend to get a good result, as Spa is the last opportunity in the WEC before heading to Le Mans."

The Germans prefer to remain optimistic ahead of the Walloon event, on a track where the 963 has excelled in the past. Last year, it was the private Porsche from the JOTA team that won after a race disrupted by a long red flag. “The Porsche 963 achieved a one-two at Spa last year, which gives me confidence, says Urs Kuratle, director of the LMDh program. Data and experience from the 2024 season, as well as lessons from recent testing in Belgium, will help us. In the first three races of the championship IMSA This season, our Porsche Penske Motorsport team has demonstrated that it is possible to achieve great success in the face of fierce competition. If all manufacturers compete on equal terms, podium finishes are well within our reach."

Wehrlein and Müller, the newcomers at Porsche

Like the other seven Hypercar manufacturers, Porsche will use this event to fine-tune the final details before heading to Le Mans in June. A full-scale training session that will be essential for the American-German team, but also for its two new faces, Pascal Wehrlein and Nico Müller. The two drivers, accustomed to the Formula E, will be competing in their first race with Porsche in the WEC's premier class, with the German in the No. 6 alongside Kévin Estre and Laurens Vanthoor, and the Swiss in the No. 5 with Julien Andlauer and Michael Christensen. While they both have had their first experience aboard the 963 in IMSA, they will now have to adapt to the characteristics of the world championship during this warm-up round before the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which Pascal Wehrlein will contest aboard the third Porsche entered while Nico Müller will be the team's reserve driver.

“I am delighted that we were able to offer our Formula E drivers a seat at Spa and I am certain that Pascal and Nico will drive the Porsche 963 brilliantly, says Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President of Porsche Motorsport.After disappointing results in Qatar and Imola, we are determined to turn things around in time for the season finale at Le Mans. I hope the race will be open, fair, and close among all manufacturers and teams in Belgium. If that's the case, I think our Porsche Penske Motorsport team has a good chance."

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