associated researches
Drivers of his generation
Porsche Team
1. History of Porsche Team in Endurance
Porsche's history in motorsport is inseparable from that of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The German team has the record for victories in the event with 19 successes in France. Competed in the world endurance championship from 2014 to 2017, Porsche won three editions of the FIA WEC.
2. History of Porsche in single-seaters
The history of Porsche in single-seaters as an official team was not made in Formula 1 but in Formula E. McLaren engine owner at the time of the TAG-Porsche badged engine, the German manufacturer officially landed in the world of single-seaters during the 2019/2020 FE season.
Unsurprisingly, Porsche placed its trust in the company's drivers by starting WEC regulars Neel Jani and André Lotterer, before Pascal Wehrlein replaced the former for the following two seasons.
If the wish was to establish itself as a reference, Porsche's debut in Formula E was not convincing, just like all three seasons. In three campaigns, the German firm has only obtained one small victory, signed Pascal Wehrlein in Mexico (Mexico) during the 2021/2022 season.
3. Porsche Team drivers
Porsche has had many drivers over the years. From Hans Herrmann and Richard Atwood, first winners of the 24 Hours of Le Mans during the 1970 edition to Timo Bernhard, Brendon Hartley and Earl Bamber, victorious in 2017 and FIA WEC champions the same season, via Jo Bonnier, Maurice Trintignant, Graham Hill, Vic Elford, Jacky Ickx, Derek Bell, Mario and Michael Andretti, Henri Pescarollo, Romain Dumas, Neel Jani, Mark Webber, André Lotterer and Nick Tandy, many of whom took part in the Le Mans adventure from Porsche. The German firm will make its return to the world endurance championship during the 2023 season with the Porsche 963.
A team led in 2023 by the experienced André Lotterer, who will once again take part in this adventure in the WEC championship. Kévin Estre, Michael Christensen, Laurens Vanthoor, Matt Campbell and Mathieu Jaminet, with their results in GT, as well as Dane Cameron and Felipe Nasr occupy the other places in this Hypercar program, the WEC category. In 2024, Laurens Vanthoor, Kevin Estre and Andre Lotterer share in the No. 6 Porsche, and in the No. 5 Porsche, we find Frederic Makowiecki, Matt Campebell and Michael Christensen.
4. Prizes won by Porsche Team
The Porsche 917 was named “competition car of the century” by 50 international motorsport experts and Brianne Motor Sport magazine. It was also featured in the film Le Mans (1971) by Lee H. Katzin, with Steve McQueen, in a Gulf livery.
5. Porsche Team vehicles
Porsche has distinguished itself with its Endurance prototypes. The Porche 718 debuted at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1957, but was not content to run only in endurance since it was also transformed into a single-seater for the Formula and Formula 2 championships. In Endurance, it won all 12 Hours of Sebring in 1960 with Hans Herrmann and Olivier Gendebien. It was entered in races at Le Mans from 1957 to 1963, with category victories in 1958 (S2.0 and S1.6), 1960 (S1.6) and 1961 (S2.0). It also won at the Nürburgring in 1958 and at Daytona in 1959.
The Porsche 904 made its appearance around the clock in 1964 for only two seasons, before giving way to the 906, itself replaced in 1968 by the 907 and the 908. The German manufacturer finally had to wait for the premiere of the 917 to win the general classification at Le Mans in 1970, a performance repeated in 1971 in the world's greatest endurance race.
The Stuttgart firm then had to wait until 1976 to win again at Le Mans, with the 936, with Jacky Ickx. In 1977, it was once again the 936 which won the event, still under the piloting of the Belgian. The Porsche 935 subsequently won the 1979 edition then the 1981 and 1982 editions. The 958 took over in 1983, 1984 and 1985. The Porsche 962 completed a historic series of seven victories in a row.
After several years away from sports prototypes in Endurance, Porsche returned in 2014 with its 919 Hybrid. The LM P1 won the following year at Le Mans, in 2015. The German manufacturer scored four victories, at the Nürburgring, at Austin, at Fuji and at Shanghai to pocket the manufacturers' world title. The 2016 season was marked by a new victory at Le Mans, acquired after the retirement of the No. 5 Toyota at the start of the last lap. Driven by Kazuki Nakajima, the Toyota TS050 Hybrid must leave victory to the No. 919 Porsche 2 Hybrid of Marc Lieb, Romain Dumas and Neel Jani. A final coronation in 2016 for the 919 Hybrid and Porsche turns the page on the reigning category for several years.
The manufacturer has not, however, remained inactive in the world of motorsport, since it has devoted itself to another famous page in its history, GT, and more recently to the premier category in Endurance.
6. AUTOhebdo's opinion on Porsche Team
A must in sports prototypes and Grand Touring, Porsche has forged its legend in its disciplines and on the most prestigious circuits in the world: at Le Mans, at the Nürburgring, at Sebring and even at Daytona. With its arrival in the Hypercar category, the German manufacturer seeks to reconnect with its glorious history in the premier category of motorsport. The Stuttgart firm also wants to leave its mark on Formula 1 in the years to come, even if the expected deal with Red Bull collapsed at the last moment last summer.