Podium Debut. Porsche Earns Podium Finish in Formula E Premier.

Porsche Profile. Event Story Lines.

Podium Debut. Porsche Earns Podium Finish in Formula E Premier.

Porsche factory driver André Lotterer (Germany) earned a strong second-place finish in the ABB FIA Formula E Championship 2019/2020 season-opener on Friday, November 22 and gained valuable experience in the second Diriyah E-Prix race on Saturday. The debut race weekend was, overall, encouraging for Porsche in the fully-electric race series. After reaching the podium on the previous day, Lotterer initially crossed the finish line in sixth-place at the end of the second race on the 1.83-mile (2.494-kilometer) circuit near the Saudi Arabian capital, Riyadh. He finished just over three seconds behind race-winner Alexander Sims in a BMW. However, he then received a drive-through penalty for overtaking at the start of a safety car period. Lotterer failed to spot the yellow flags as he passed another car that was experiencing technical issues. Having started the race from tenth-place, the German driver was demoted to a final position of 14th. Lotterer’s teammate Neel Jani (Switzerland) moved up five places from 18th on the grid to finish 13th.

The Formula E Fanboost saw fans vote Lotterer into the top five on both days. This provided the Porsche driver with 100 kJ of additional energy in each race. With two races out of 14 now complete, Lotterer is sixth in the drivers’ championship with 18 points. The TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team is also in sixth-place in the team standings. The third race of the season is scheduled to take place on January 18 in Santiago, Chile.

“We are up with the frontrunners; the pace is there. We can build on that.” Michael Steiner, Member of the Executive Board for Research and Development Porsche AG

Amiel Lindesay, Head of Operations Formula E.

“Following on from Friday's success, that was another good race on Saturday. André once again made up some places as he moved through the field. Even though we did not manage to score any points at the end of the second race, it was a positive weekend for the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team. We have gathered some valuable information and now we have to do our homework. I am happy for the whole team. The results give us confidence for the next races of the season.”

Neel Jani, Driver, No. 18 TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team Porsche 99X Electric.

“It was a challenging second race but our pace was better than on Friday and it represents a big step forward for me personally. We all gained a lot of experience here and now we have to continue the hard work to ensure that we can benefit from that for the upcoming races.”

André Lotterer, Driver, No. 36 TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team Porsche 99X Electric.

“All in all, a great start to the season with the second place on Friday. We could have scored another eight points by finishing sixth Saturday. Unfortunately, I was demoted after the race finished. I was just overtaking Pascal Wehrlein as the safety car appeared on the circuit. That was just really unlucky in terms of timing."

Intercontinental Champions. Porsche Claims Manufacturers’ and Drivers’ Titles.

Porsche has won the manufacturers’ title for the first time in the Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC). At the final round of the multi-continent championship for GT3 vehicles in Kyalami, South Africa, the Porsche 911 GT3 R fielded by Frikadelli Racing drove to victory. In a chaotic nine-hour race, works driver Nick Tandy (Great Britain) as well as the Porsche Young Professionals Dennis Olsen (Norway) and Mathieu Jaminet (France) led the action when it mattered. Porsche earned the decisive points thanks to third-place for the GPX Racing squad with drivers Kévin Estre (France), Michael Christensen (Denmark) and Richard Lietz (Austria). The drivers’ championship title also went to Porsche driver Olsen. The Norwegian secured the crown with his second victory of the season after winning the season-opening round at Bathurst (Australia).

At the first international long-distance race on the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit since 1982, the 911 GT3 R, which is based on the high-performance Porsche 911 GT3 RS road-legal sports car, ran at the front of the race over long stretches. After the start in summery temperatures, the three GT3 vehicles campaigned by Frikadelli Racing (No. 31), GPX Racing (No. 20) and Dinamic Motorsport (No. 12) immediately formed a spearhead at the front. After several laps, the world sports car champion Christensen moved into the lead with the Porsche 911 GT3 R belonging to the winning team at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium). The number 20 vehicle then defended the top spot.

With approximately two hours left on the clock, an intense thunderstorm with heavy downpours changed the order at the front. Due to essential refueling stops behind the safety car, which had been deployed due to the difficult conditions, the two best Porsche 911 GT3 R were initially relegated to third and fourth-place. With 25 minutes to go, the steward of the meeting gave the green light. Porsche’s works driver Nick Tandy then pulled out all stops to put in an impressive drive, demonstrating the sheer power of the GT3 vehicle from Stuttgart on the wet track. The Briton, who had planted the No. 31 vehicle on pole position on Friday, cut his way through the field over just one lap to take the lead and ultimately cross the finish line with a 6.746-second advantage.

The Spa race winners Lietz, Estre and Christensen claimed third-place for the customer team GPX Racing. Bathurst winner Matt Campbell (Australia) as well as the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship class champions Laurens Vanthoor (Belgium) and Earl Bamber (New Zealand) raced to eighth-place in the number 12 car run by Dinamic Motorsport after an extended pit stop. The pursuit of the No. 911 vehicle fielded by KÜS Team 75 Bernhard with factory driver Romain Dumas from France and his German teammates Sven Müller and Dirk Werner concluded with a ninth-place finish. With four vehicles finishing in the top ten, Porsche was clearly the strongest manufacturer in the intensely competitive 28-strong field.

The GT3 vehicle with which Lechner Racing contested the silver category won its class (14th overall). Porsche development driver Lars Kern (Germany) shared driving duties at the wheel of the No. 9 car with the South African Saul Hack and Dylan Pereira from Luxembourg. The Porsche 911 GT3 R (type 997 model) fielded by the South African customer team Perfect Circle concluded the first nine-hour race in South Africa in 37 years, finishing third in the amateur category.

Porsche rounds off the 2019 Intercontinental GT Challenge season as number one in the manufacturers’ championship. After winning the season-opening event in Bathurst with last year’s model of Porsche 911 GT3 R, victories followed at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium) and at Kyalami as well as podium finishes at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California and Suzuka (Japan).

Sebastian Golz, Project Manager 911 GT3 R.

“Three wins from five races, and podium finishes at all rounds – that’s how you win championships. The key to our success was the excellent teamwork of our squads around the world. The final race at Kyalami with sun, heat, lightning, thunder and rain was like a rollercoaster ride. In the end, we deserved to win. Now it’s time to celebrate.”

Nick Tandy, Driver, No. 31 Frikadelli Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R.

“The Porsche 911 GT3 R was the strongest vehicle in the cutthroat competition of the GT3 manufacturers. We were the fastest in dry conditions, and in the rain the nine-eleven set the benchmark. I’m pleased that the race went green again so that we could demonstrate the strength of our rear-engine car. Halfway through the race we had to cope with a couple of minor setbacks, but thanks to perfect teamwork we were ultimately able to take the lead. I’m particularly thrilled about Dennis’s title win. I know how much this means to him.”

Dennis Olsen, Driver, No. 31 Frikadelli Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R.

“This is definitely the best day of my career by now. When I was asked recently to name my greatest achievement, I said it was the victory at Bathurst. When I was then asked what could be better than that, I said a victory at Kyalami, winning the manufacturers’ title with Porsche as well as the drivers’ championship. That has now happened – unbelievable. It feels like a dream. When the race was finally restarted, I had a good feeling. If you have someone like Nick Tandy in the Porsche 911 GT3 R on a wet track in the final sprint, then anything is possible.”

Mathieu Jaminet, Driver, No. 31 Frikadelli Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R.

“Despite the turbulent conditions during the race we never gave up. We went for broke in every single lap, and drove the fastest race lap in the dry. It all paid off. Before the start of the race weekend, I told Dennis we were going to win at Kyalami and he would claim the title. We’ve turned that prediction into reality. Now we’ll celebrate.”

Richard Lietz, Driver, No. 20 GPX Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R.

“Another successful outing for Kévin, Michael and me in GPX Racing’s car. We were strong over the entire weekend, and we led for most of the race. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to bring home first place in the rain. But most importantly, Porsche has won the manufacturers’ title – mission accomplished.”

Academy Performance. Porsche Young Drivers Academy Alma Mater of North America’s Best.

Eight years ago, Porsche Cars North America (PCNA) and Porsche Motorsport North America (PMNA) saw the need to educate young drivers on the unique skill set required to meet the needs of modern professional auto racing. With Patrick Long (Manhattan Beach, California) leading the cause, the continent’s only factory driver teamed with management in Atlanta and Los Angeles to outline the on- and off-track curriculum that would most benefit drivers between the ages of 18 and 24. The program completed its eighth year and has now graduated 33 drivers, after the most recent Porsche North America Young Driver Academy (PYDA) was held November 17 – 18 at Barber Motorsport Park. The results of the nearly three-dozen drivers that have gone through the program since its inception are a perfect example of the Academy’s founding precept. Participants include drivers with major domestic and international championship and race wins.

Total Participants (2012 – 2019): 33

2012 – PYDA I

1. Sean Johnston
- 2012 GT3 Cup Challenge USA Champion
- 2013 – 2016 – Porsche Carrera Cup Germany, Supercup
- ADAC Rally
2. Cooper MacNeil
- 2012 & 2013 – ALMS GTC Cup Champion
- Three-Time IMSA GTD Class Winner including 2018 Petit Le Mans
3. Spencer Pigot
- 56-time IndyCar Series race starter
- 4-time Indianapolis 500 starter
- Mazda Racing DP Factory Driver
- 2014 Pro Mazda Champion
- 2015 Indy Lights Champion
4. Kyle Marcelli
- Petit Le Mans class winner
- Trans Am Series race winner
- Pirelli World Challenge race winner
- IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race winner
- IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge race winner

2013 – PYDA II

1. Angel Andres Benitez
2. Madison Snow
- 2018 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Champion GTD class Champion
- IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race winner
- IMSA Lamborghini Trofeo race winner
3. David Ostella
- 2013 GT3 Cup Challenge Canada Champion
- 2017 Pirelli World Challenge GT Sprint X Championship Runner-Up
4. Michael James Lewis
- Pirelli World Challenge GT Race Winner
- 2015 Pirelli World Challenge GT Rookie of the Year.
- 2018 – Finished 2nd in Pirelli World Challenge TCR Class Championship

2014 – PYDA III

1. Scott Hargrove
- 2019 Porsche Selected Driver
- 2019 SRO GT World Challenge America GT Race Winner
- 2018 Pirelli World Challenge GT Sprint Champion
- 2014 and 2017 IMSA Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada Champion
- IMSA GTD, 2019
- Indy Lights Driver
2. Colin Thompson
- Pirelli World Challenge Driver
3. Sloan Urry
- 2015 - Finished 2nd in Pirelli World Challenge GT Cup Class
4. Elliott Skeer
- 2015 IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge USA Champion
- Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge
5. Austin Cindric
- 2019 – NASCAR XFINITY Series Race Winner
- 2017 – 3rd in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Championship
- NASCAR XFINITY Series Driver
- Red Bull Global Rallycross Driver
- ARCA Driver
- IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge Driver

2015 – PYDA IV

1. Jesse Lazare
- 2017 Rolex 24 GTD Class Winner
- 2015 IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge USA Champion
2. Daniel Morad
- 2017 Rolex 24 GTD Class Winner
- 2016 IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge Canada Champion
- Pirelli World Challenge GT Race Winner
3. Clark Toppe
- IMSA Mazda Prototype Lites Champion
4. Alec Udell
- 2019 SRO GT4 Europe Champion
- 2017 Pirelli World Challenge GT Hard Charger Award recipient
- 2016 Pirelli World Challenge GT Cup Champion
- Pirelli World Challenge GTA Race Winner

2016 – PYDA V

1. Andrew Longe
- IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge USA podium finisher
2. Lucas Catania
- 2016 IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge USA – 2nd Place
3. Trent Hindman
- 2019 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTD Race Winner
- 2019 SRO GT4 America Pro-Am Class Race Winner
- 2017 Pirelli World Challenge GTS SprintX ProAm Champion
- 2017 Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America Pro Champion
- 2017 Lamborghini Super Trofeo World Final Pro Champion
- 2017 IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge – Second-Place GS Championship
4. Matt McMurry
- IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Daytona Prototype Driver
- FIA WEC LMP2 Driver
- IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTD Driver

2017 – PYDA VI

1. Michael DeQueseda
- 2017 Rolex 24 GTD Class Winner
- Porsche Carrera Cup Driver
- Porsche Supercup
2. Rodrigo Baptista
- Pirelli World Challenge Race Winner
- 2017 IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge Brazil Champion
3. Trenton Estep
- 2018 IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge USA Champion
4. Zacharie Robichon
- 2019 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Sprint Cup Champion
- 2019 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship – Two-Time GTD class winner
- 2018 IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge Canada Champion

2018 – PYDA VII

1. Max Root
- 2019 IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge USA Winner
- 2018 Hurley Haywood Scholarship Recipient
2. David Kolkmann
- 2018 IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge USA Winner
3. Roman De Angelis
- 2019 IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge USA Champion
- 2019 IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge Canada Champion
- 2017 IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge Canada Champion (Gold Class)
4. Mitchell deJong
- RCR RallyCross Lites Winner

2019 – PYDA VIII

1. Riley Dickinson (17 years-old)
2. Jeff Kingsley (21)
3. Hanna Zellers (22)
4. Britt Casey (21)