Porsche secures GT victory in Imola as 963 struggles in Hypercar class
Porsche triumphs in GT class at Imola WEC round
Porsche's Manthey 1st Phorm wins the LMGT3 class at Imola WEC. Factory 963s finish outside podium in Hypercar. Full report on race results and team reactions.
2025-04-21T22:52:16Z
2025-04-21T22:52:16Z
2025-04-22T12:20:23Z
News, Motorsport
The second round of the FIA World Endurance Championship at Imola delivered intense competition and a standout victory for Porsche in the LMGT3 category. The Manthey 1st Phorm team secured their first win of the season, thanks to flawless coordination and a well-executed pit stop strategy. Richard Lietz, Ryan Hardwick, and Riccardo Pera piloted their Porsche 911 GT3 R to a narrow win over BMW, crossing the line with just 0.316 seconds to spare.
The Italian circuit served up drama throughout the six-hour race. With two safety car deployments and multiple full course yellows, the rhythm was repeatedly broken, especially in the Hypercar class. Porsche Penske Motorsport adopted an alternative tire strategy, and the No. 6 crew—Matt Campbell, Kévin Estre, and Laurens Vanthoor—briefly led the race. However, they were unable to fend off faster rivals and ultimately finished eighth, collecting six championship points. The No. 5 crew ended up in 11th, while Proton Competition’s No. 99 car finished 14th.
Team leaders didn’t hide their frustration. Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President of Porsche Motorsport, acknowledged the team's efforts but expressed concern over the significant performance gap between Hypercars. Despite a BoP adjustment that reduced the weight of the Porsche 963, the team couldn’t match the pace of Ferrari and BMW. Ferrari’s 499P triumphed convincingly, while BMW’s No. 20 car surged from P13 on the grid to a second-place finish.
Iron Dames, the all-female racing team, also made headlines. They secured their first WEC points with Porsche by finishing eighth in the LMGT3 class. Looking ahead, Porsche is preparing for the crucial third round at Spa-Francorchamps on May 10, which is considered a vital warm-up for the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans. With the brand’s 20th Le Mans victory as a clear goal, Porsche is sharpening its focus on reclaiming endurance racing glory.
Source: porsche.com
Porsche 911 GT3 R, Porsche 963, Imola WEC 2025, Manthey 1st Phorm, Hypercar class, FIA World Endurance Championship, Iron Dames, Porsche Penske Motorsport, Ferrari 499P, BMW WEC
2025
Mark Havelin
News
en-US
News
Porsche secures GT victory in Imola as 963 struggles in Hypercar class
porsche.com
Porsche's Manthey 1st Phorm wins the LMGT3 class at Imola WEC. Factory 963s finish outside podium in Hypercar. Full report on race results and team reactions.
The second round of the FIA World Endurance Championship at Imola delivered intense competition and a standout victory for Porsche in the LMGT3 category. The Manthey 1st Phorm team secured their first win of the season, thanks to flawless coordination and a well-executed pit stop strategy. Richard Lietz, Ryan Hardwick, and Riccardo Pera piloted their Porsche 911 GT3 R to a narrow win over BMW, crossing the line with just 0.316 seconds to spare.
The Italian circuit served up drama throughout the six-hour race. With two safety car deployments and multiple full course yellows, the rhythm was repeatedly broken, especially in the Hypercar class. Porsche Penske Motorsport adopted an alternative tire strategy, and the No. 6 crew—Matt Campbell, Kévin Estre, and Laurens Vanthoor—briefly led the race. However, they were unable to fend off faster rivals and ultimately finished eighth, collecting six championship points. The No. 5 crew ended up in 11th, while Proton Competition’s No. 99 car finished 14th.
Team leaders didn’t hide their frustration. Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President of Porsche Motorsport, acknowledged the team's efforts but expressed concern over the significant performance gap between Hypercars. Despite a BoP adjustment that reduced the weight of the Porsche 963, the team couldn’t match the pace of Ferrari and BMW. Ferrari’s 499P triumphed convincingly, while BMW’s No. 20 car surged from P13 on the grid to a second-place finish.
Iron Dames, the all-female racing team, also made headlines. They secured their first WEC points with Porsche by finishing eighth in the LMGT3 class. Looking ahead, Porsche is preparing for the crucial third round at Spa-Francorchamps on May 10, which is considered a vital warm-up for the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans. With the brand’s 20th Le Mans victory as a clear goal, Porsche is sharpening its focus on reclaiming endurance racing glory.
