The two factory Porsche 963 entries finished sixth and eighth in the six-hour IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race at Road America after a day marked by penalties, contact, and frequent caution periods. While Porsche Penske Motorsport showed race-winning pace early, the customer-run JDC-Miller MotorSports team emerged as Porsche’s top finisher with a second consecutive podium result. AO Racing also claimed a runner-up finish in the GTD Pro class with its Porsche 911 GT3 R.
The race at the Wisconsin circuit featured constant interruptions, with nine full-course caution periods repeatedly reshuffling the field. Porsche Penske Motorsport’s No. 7 Porsche 963 led the race at the halfway mark, but its fortunes changed dramatically about an hour later when contact from a rival sent the hybrid prototype, carrying a tribute livery inspired by the 2007 RS Spyder, into the gravel.
The lengthy recovery, subsequent repairs, and three penalties ended any hopes of victory for Julien Andlauer and Felipe Nasr. The winners of the season-opening endurance races at Daytona and Sebring ultimately crossed the finish line in sixth place.
The sister No. 6 Porsche 963 briefly appeared poised to challenge for the victory after the setback for the No. 7 entry. During the eighth caution period, Kévin Estre was running second before the restart. However, the Frenchman made contact with a competitor shortly after racing resumed, sending the Porsche 963—wearing a tribute livery honoring the legendary 1973 Porsche 917/30—into the barriers. Estre and co-driver Laurens Vanthoor were ultimately classified eighth.
“First, the good news: We’ve clinched the team and driver titles in the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup. This shows just how strong our team is in endurance racing,” says Urs Kuratle, Director Factory Motorsport LMDh. “Congratulations to our customer team, JDC-Miller MotorSports, on their second-place finish. Unfortunately, there were also some downsides today. Many cars were involved in incidents during a hectic race. Our two Porsche 963 from Porsche Penske Motorsport were among them. As a result, we didn’t achieve top results here.”
JDC-Miller MotorSports capitalized on the chaotic race to secure Porsche’s best overall result. Factory driver Laurin Heinrich, American Kaylen Frederick, and Dutch driver Tijmen van der Helm combined to finish second overall in the No. 5 Porsche 963, marking the team’s second consecutive podium appearance.
Heinrich, a former Porsche Junior, remains Porsche’s highest-ranked driver in the overall championship standings in second place. Porsche also sits second in the manufacturers’ championship, while leading the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup manufacturers’ standings, which include the endurance events at Daytona, Sebring, Watkins Glen, Road America, and Road Atlanta.
GT Classes: “Rexy” Porsche 911 GT3 R on the podium
AO Racing’s popular “Rexy” Porsche 911 GT3 R delivered another strong performance in the GTD Pro class, with British drivers Harry King and Nick Tandy finishing second after completing 142 laps at Road America.
Manthey’s sister Porsche 911 GT3 R also ran near the front before penalties relegated it to ninth in GTD Pro. In the GTD category, the Manthey 1st Phorm entry slipped to 16th on the final lap, while RS1’s No. 28 Porsche 911 GT3 R was the marque’s top finisher in 10th. Wright Motorsports retired after an early-race accident.
The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship continues on Aug. 23 at Virginia International Raceway, where only the GT classes will compete. The Porsche 963 will return to action in the GTP category on Sept. 20 at Indianapolis.
Above contents © 2026 Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG reviewed and edited by Rex McAfee , @rexmcafee 🏁
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