Dakar Rally News: Pascal Wehrlein’s Surprise Daytona Test Hints at Porsche Le Mans Seat
In a surprising turn of events, Pascal Wehrlein, the reigning Formula E champion, could be in the running for a factory drive with Porsche in next year’s prestigious Le Mans 24 Hours. Wehrlein’s unexpected appearance at last week’s Daytona test has sparked speculation that he may be the frontrunner for the vacant seat in Porsche’s Le Mans line-up, rather than the previously rumored Sebastian Vettel.
Porsche Penske Motorsport has already announced the driver pairings for its two factory 963 LMDh cars in the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). However, the German manufacturer has an additional entry for the 24-hour endurance classic, and it seems Wehrlein could be the one to fill that seat.
Porsche motorsport boss Thomas Laudenbach recently stated that the company is “more likely to run three cars” at Le Mans next year, following its victory in the IMSA SportsCar Championship’s GTP class.
With eight prototype drivers in its factory roster across WEC and IMSA for the 2025 season, down from 10 this year, Porsche has one vacancy in its squad for a three-car attack.
Wehrlein, who is already a factory driver for Porsche in Formula E, tested the 963 LMDh car while it was still in development in 2022. This experience, combined with his current prime form, could give him the edge over fellow German Vettel, who has been linked to the third Porsche entry but has primarily completed demonstration runs since his exit from Formula 1 with Aston Martin at the end of 2022.
Urs Kuratle, the LMDh project driver, has confirmed that an extra driver would be needed should Porsche go ahead with its plan to field a third car at Le Mans. While Vettel remains a contender, Wehrlein’s recent Daytona test appearance suggests he may be the more likely choice.
The 2023 FIA WEC calendar and the IMSA season opener do not clash, allowing Wehrlein to potentially compete in both the Daytona 24 Hours and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This flexibility in his schedule could further bolster his case for the vacant Porsche seat at the iconic French endurance race.
As the motorsport world eagerly awaits Porsche’s decision on the third Le Mans entry, all eyes will be on Wehrlein’s future prospects, as he could be poised to make his debut at the legendary Circuit de la Sarthe in 2024.
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