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Porsche Explores Early WEC Debut for Pascal Wehrlein Ahead of Le Mans
Porsche is considering the possibility of its Formula E champion, Pascal Wehrlein, making an early debut in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) at Spa, as part of his preparations for the prestigious Le Mans 24 Hours race.
Jonathan Diuguid, the head of Porsche Penske Motorsport, shared that a conclusive decision regarding Wehrlein’s participation in the upcoming Belgian WEC race in May is still pending. This potential race outing would serve as a valuable opportunity for Wehrlein to acclimate ahead of Le Mans, scheduled for June 14-15.
Wehrlein’s inclusion was officially announced last month, marking him as part of the #4 entry for Le Mans, where he will team up with established IMSA SportsCar Championship drivers Nick Tandy and Felipe Nasr.
“We are currently discussing this possibility and will determine how best to proceed for the Spa race,” Diuguid noted. “We are reviewing all options to ensure Wehrlein is fully prepared.”
Porsche Penske Motorsport may integrate Wehrlein into one of their regular WEC entries for the Spa 6 Hours slated for May 10. Meanwhile, Mathieu Jaminet and Matt Campbell, who competed in the first two WEC races at Qatar and Imola, will be participating in a simultaneous IMSA event in Laguna Seca.
After this, both drivers are anticipated to return for the Le Mans race, but the team plans to simplify its line-up for subsequent races in Interlagos, Austin, and Fuji.
In its current roster, Porsche has confirmed only Michael Christensen and Julien Andlauer for car #5, and Kevin Estre and Laurens Vanthoor for car #6 throughout the season.
Diuguid also highlighted that Wehrlein has actively engaged in PPM’s testing program recently. He participated in a rigorous 32-hour endurance test in Aragon, Spain, followed by a two-day session at Spa earlier this month. This comes on the heels of his debut with the Porsche 963 at the Daytona 24 Hours earlier this year, driving for the JDC-Miller Motorsports customer team.
“He has accumulated a considerable amount of driving experience and has shown commendable performance,” Diuguid commented. “However, he still needs to familiarize himself with WEC race protocols and the car’s intricate systems.”
In addition to track time, Wehrlein is dedicating substantial hours in the simulator to boost his readiness.
Additionally, a decision regarding the reserve driver for Porsche’s three-car team at Le Mans remains unmade. Diuguid indicated that options are being considered, including Antonio Felix da Costa, Wehrlein’s teammate from the factory Formula E squad, or Nico Muller, another Porsche driver currently slated for the Andretti team this season.
Da Costa has been confirmed to drive an LMP2 car for the AF Corse squad at Le Mans, while Muller, who participated in Porsche’s Aragon test, is not listed as an entrant for the event.
“We’re evaluating all available options,” Diuguid stated. “Antonio will be on-site racing an LMP2 car, so we need to decide whether we prefer to have Nico or another option ready, or if we are comfortable with da Costa being present and potentially pulling him from the P2 race if necessary.”
In previous years, Campbell and Dane Cameron have served as Porsche’s reserve drivers for Le Mans, providing additional depth to the team’s strategy during the event.
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