-
Home
- TV Shows
-
TV Schedule
-
SPEED Showcase
-
- NASCAR
-
Latest Headlines: NASCAR
-
-
Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
-
Latest Headlines: Moto-Racing
-
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Games
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
- Home
- TV Shows
-
TV Schedule
-
SPEED Showcase
-
- NASCAR
- Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
Le Mans / ALMS
LE MANS: Porsche To Enter Factory 991s In WEC
Porsche AG Team Manthey to campaign two new 991-model GTE cars in FIA World Endurance Championship...
Manthey Racing will be tasked with running Porsche's new factory GTE-Pro entries in the FIA World Endurance Championship next year. (Photo: Fotospeedy/GT Open)
While having halted development of its 997-model 911 GT3 RSR and pulled factory support from Flying Lizard Motorsports and Team Felbermayr-Proton, Porsche announced Friday that it will field a team of its own in next year's FIA World Endurance Championship with its new-generation GTE contender.
The German manufacturer will team up with longtime partner Manthey Racing to campaign two new 991-model Porsche 911 RSRs in the global sports car championship, including a full attack at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The effort, to be run under the Porsche AG Team Manthey banner, will mark the first factory entry in the twice-around-the-clock marathon by Porsche since its overall victory in the famed race in 1998.
"The new 911 RSR is currently being developed by our engineers and tested by our works drivers," said Hartmut Kristen, head of Porsche Motorsport. "What better time could there be to introduce the new car than the Porsche 911's 50th anniversary."
Having been in development for much of this year, the new 991-model car will replace the current 997-based Porsche in 2014. The factory squad, run by endurance specialist Olaf Manthey, who took Porsche to five overall victories at the Nurburgring 24, will be the only team with the new GTE contender next year.
Full details of Porsche's factory program, including drivers, are unclear at this point. However, it would seem logical for both cars to be filled with its usual crop of factory pilots, with Marc Lieb, Richard Lietz, Joerg Bergmeister and Patrick Long all appearing to be potential candidates. Additionally, fellow factory driver Marco Holzer and Nick Tandy, who both drove for Manthey's works-supported squad in International GT Open this year, could be in contention as well.
Porsche's WEC GTE-Pro program will precede its planned factory entry into the LMP1 class in 2014. It's expected much of the focus will shift to the prototype program in just over one years' time, leaving the new 911 RSR to customers in all major sports car championships worldwide.
John Dagys is SPEED.com’s Sportscar Racing Reporter, focusing on all major domestic and international championships. You can follow him on Twitter @johndagys or email him at
The German manufacturer will team up with longtime partner Manthey Racing to campaign two new 991-model Porsche 911 RSRs in the global sports car championship, including a full attack at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The effort, to be run under the Porsche AG Team Manthey banner, will mark the first factory entry in the twice-around-the-clock marathon by Porsche since its overall victory in the famed race in 1998.
"The new 911 RSR is currently being developed by our engineers and tested by our works drivers," said Hartmut Kristen, head of Porsche Motorsport. "What better time could there be to introduce the new car than the Porsche 911's 50th anniversary."
Having been in development for much of this year, the new 991-model car will replace the current 997-based Porsche in 2014. The factory squad, run by endurance specialist Olaf Manthey, who took Porsche to five overall victories at the Nurburgring 24, will be the only team with the new GTE contender next year.
Full details of Porsche's factory program, including drivers, are unclear at this point. However, it would seem logical for both cars to be filled with its usual crop of factory pilots, with Marc Lieb, Richard Lietz, Joerg Bergmeister and Patrick Long all appearing to be potential candidates. Additionally, fellow factory driver Marco Holzer and Nick Tandy, who both drove for Manthey's works-supported squad in International GT Open this year, could be in contention as well.
Porsche's WEC GTE-Pro program will precede its planned factory entry into the LMP1 class in 2014. It's expected much of the focus will shift to the prototype program in just over one years' time, leaving the new 911 RSR to customers in all major sports car championships worldwide.
John Dagys is SPEED.com’s Sportscar Racing Reporter, focusing on all major domestic and international championships. You can follow him on Twitter @johndagys or email him at
Monterey
LATEST HEADLINES: AUTO-RACING
-
INDYCAR: Inside IndyCar's New Speed, Safety And Technology Initiative…
INDYCAR's Derrick Walker takes Marshall Pruett through where the… -
PHOTOS: Indy 500 Carb Day 2013
Enjoy a selection of photos from Indy 500 Carb Day, including the… -
VIDEO: Amazing 4-Wide Finish To Indy Lights Freedom 100
Ireland's Peter Dempsey came from fourth at Turn 3 on the last lap… -
INDYCAR: Pagenaud Leads Indy 500 Carb Day Practice
After getting whooped in qualifying, Honda turns up the wick for… -
INDYCAR: Miller's Mailbag, 5.24
It's time for SPEED.com's weekly IndyCar Q&A with Robin Miller's… -
USAC: Honda To Sponsor National Midget Championship
Honda announced it would be the title sponsor for USAC’s National… -
GRAND-AM: Valiante Joins 8Star For Mid-Ohio
Daytona Prototype ace to sub for Stephane Sarrazin in next month's… - More News
