Porsche’s six GTP championship titles at Road Atlanta

IMSA

Oct 13

📷 Courtesy of IMSA. #7 and #6 Porsche Penske Motorsport teams celebrating titles

Porsche left its lasting mark on the 2024 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season at Road Atlanta by winning a total of six GTP titles. At the wheel of the Porsche 963 with starting number 7, Felipe Nasr and Dane Cameron secured the IMSA SportsCar Championship for drivers' title and the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup for drivers. The #7 Porsche Penske Motorsport works team won both team championships and Porsche triumphed in both manufacturers' championships.

Bourdais-van der Zande-Dixon win Motul Petit Le Mans

Chip Ganassi Racing closed the chapter on their manufacturer partnership with Cadillac on a high note by winning the 10 hours race after a 37 minutes sprint finish which saw Renger van der Zande crossing checkered flag first aboard the #01 Cadillac V-Series.R which he shared with Sebastien Bourdais and Scott Dixon

The #01 Cadillac V-Series.R overcame two drive-thru penalties and was levied a mechanical black flag by IMSA for a sensor that was not broadcasting information while running fourth in the 18th minute. The crew resolved the issue on the second service stop under a full course yellow, though it rejoined the race a lap down.

📷 Courtesy of IMSA. From left to right: Renger van der Zande, Chip Ganassi, Sebastien Bourdais and Scott Dixon.

Renger van der Zande: “Super happy to finish this off with a bang. It’s the last race for Chip Ganassi with Cadillac. It’s my last race with Cadillac. I’ve been with Cadillac for seven years now, which makes me very proud, but also sad to leave. Nice things come to an end, and this is the right way, with Cadillac. In the last four years (with Chip Ganassi Racing). Chip has been so nice to me, Mike Hull, Mike O’Gara, the team. I think this year, we had such a good team, and everyone was working in the same direction. This win was really good.”

Sebastien Bourdais: “I don’t even know where to begin. Last year, we were winning until the final 30 minutes. This year we weren’t leading until right at the end. We had a torque sensor issue which affected the beginning of the race, so we had to do 100 laps on a set of tires. It looked like a lost race but the guys managed to fix it, and get us back to contending for the win at the end. I’m super happy to be able to finish on a high like this. It was frustrating last year to lose it, so we’ll definitely take it. I’m super happy for everyone at Chip Ganassi Racing, Cadillac, and my two awesome teammates. It couldn’t be a better send-off.”

Scott Dixon: “I’m so happy for the team. What a day. I’ve never been a part of anything like that. It’s so cool. As everybody saw the way it started we had a tricky day. We had a sensor issue, and kudos to everybody on the team side and Cadillac engineering for working through that and working with IMSA to enable that. Everybody had tremendous stints. I’m just so happy for everybody on the team and Cadillac.” Source: Cadillac Racing

Estre-Jaminet-Tandy second

Nick Tandy, Mathieu Jaminet and Kévin Estre finish second for 2.948 seconds. Tandy/Jaminet finished the IMSA season as runner-up in both IMSA SportsCar Championship and IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup for drivers' titles.

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Road Atlanta. Nick Tandy, Mathieu Jaminet and Kévin Estre In #6 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963.

Mathieu Jaminet (Porsche 963 #6): “We almost wrapped up our IMSA season with a third win, but things got super tight towards the end of Petit Le Mans. We’re delighted for our teammates – congratulations on winning the title. As vice-champions, we contributed to a perfect result for Porsche and Porsche Penske Motorsport. That makes me proud.”
Nick Tandy (Porsche 963 #6): “Our race was strong and we were leading for many laps. But then we experienced the typical Road Atlanta finish: yellow phase, gap gone, sprint to the finish. Unfortunately, we didn’t quite have the pace to win. The Cadillac was slightly faster in the end. Congratulations to our colleagues.” Source: Porsche

Nasr and Cameron third and champions

Finishing third at Road Atlanta with Matt Campbell, Cameron/Nasr clinched the drivers’ championship and the #7 Porsche Penske Motorsport the team’s championship.

📷 Luc Warnotte at Road Atlanta. Matt Campbell, Dane Cameron and Felipe Nasr with #7 Porsche 963.

Dane Cameron (Porsche 963 #7): “Heading into a new season, you always have big goals and wild dreams – winning the major event in Daytona, taking the drivers’ title as well as the manufacturers’ and teams’ championship. Add to that the crown in the Michelin Endurance Cup and securing the first two places as a team... We’ve now fulfilled all these dreams. This is almost extraordinary. I’m proud of everyone who worked so hard for our success.”
Felipe Nasr (Porsche 963 #7): “What a day! So much happened in the race, but none of that matters now: we’ve achieved our dreams! I was involved in the Porsche 963 project from day one. It makes me incredibly proud that all the hard work is paying off like this. My first title as a Porsche works driver is hugely important to me: that was my big goal when I signed on with this great manufacturer. I wanted to reach the top with Porsche and Porsche Penske Motorsport – and I’ve done it! Thank you to everyone who worked with so much passion on this.” Source: Porsche

Surviving BMW fourth

Philipp Eng, Jesse Krohn, and Augusto Farfus were in contention for a podium finish thanks to a late safety car phase. However, a tyre failure just before the end dropped the trio to fourth place, 1 lap behind the top 3.

#24 BMW M Hybrid V8 is fourth in the hands of Jesse Krohn, Augusto Farfus and Philip Eng — 📷 © Luc Warnotte at Road Atlanta. #24 BMW M Hybrid V8 with Jesse Krohn, Augusto Farfus and Philip Eng.

Jesse Krohn (#24 BMW M Hybrid V8, 4th place): “It was a long race with a lot happening for us right from the start. We were a lap down for most of the race and only managed to get it back at the very last moment. Philipp had the podium and even the win in sight and tried everything, but unfortunately, it wasn't to be this time. That's racing. Looking back on the season, it was great to see the progress we've made thanks to the extremely hard work of BMW M Team RLL and BMW M Motorsport. The highlight was, of course, the double win in Indianapolis. Thanks to everyone who made that possible.” Source: BMW Group

Whelen Cadillacs Racing fifth

The pole-winning #31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R driven by Jack Aitken, Pipo Derani and Tom Blomqvist also had its share of on-track issues and placed fifth in the 11-car Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) field.

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Road Atlanta. #31 Whelen Cadillac Racing fifth after 8 hours.

Jack Aitken: “Sadly, the race is probably a quite good summary of our season. We didn’t get the breaks when new needed them and I think a couple of costly mistakes in a row put us on the back foot and we couldn’t recover. It’s a shame. I think we weren’t really the quickest tonight, but it would have been nice to be up there in the fight. We had a relatively clean race, came home in the top five and on to next season.”

Pipo Derani: “Unfortunately, there were no yellows to bring us back to the lead lap and fight. Nonetheless, I’m really happy with how I finished my stint with the team. I had two amazing stints in the middle of the race and was having so much fun, so I’ll take those great memories. It was a difficult year, but nonetheless Cadillac won the last race. Great day at the office despite being a little short on fighting for the win. I’ll take the great friendships I made with the team and I had fun on my last day on the job.”

Tom Blomqvist: “It was eventful for us early on. We were a lap down since after two hours and just never had an opportunity to get it back. It ruined our race and disappointing way to end our season. I’ve enjoyed my time with the team. It’s just a shame we didn’t get any victories.” Source: Cadillac Racing