From electric single-seater to endurance: Wehrlein jumps to Le Mans with Porsche

Pascal Wehrlein completes the list of 21 participants in the premier class with the 963 prototype

Photos: Porsche
Francia
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The Circuit de la Sarthe will welcome Pascal Wehrlein for the first time at the 2025 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The race, scheduled for June 14-15, will feature the current Formula E champion as part of the Porsche Penske Motorsport team, completing the German manufacturer's official lineup for the fourth round of the World Endurance Championship (WEC).

Porsche adds its Formula E champion to Le Mans 2025 lineup

A new challenge for the German champion

Wehrlein's career includes experience in Formula 1 with Manor and Sauber teams, plus a DTM title before his current stint in Formula E where he claimed the world championship. His adaptation to the Porsche 963 began with test sessions and his subsequent participation in the 24 Hours of Daytona in early 2025, where he competed with customer team JDC-Miller MotorSports.

When you drive in Formula E you have total control over your working environment, but in endurance racing everything changes. In the 963 you share absolutely everything: from seat position to car setup and race strategy. This contrast represents a fascinating learning experience for me.

For the 30-year-old driver, this opportunity goes beyond mere participation: "My racing career now aims to expand beyond Formula E. Winning the world championship was extraordinary, but now I seek to conquer other disciplines while learning as much as possible from this experience."

Porsche adds its Formula E champion to Le Mans 2025 lineup

The strategy behind the selection

Wehrlein's addition responds to specific logistical needs of Porsche. With its eight official drivers split between WEC and the IMSA championship, the manufacturer needed a ninth name to complete its third entry at Le Mans.

Our driver structure is extraordinarily deep. Leveraging talent from our Formula E division for the third Le Mans entry proved to be the natural choice.

Experienced trio

Wehrlein will team up with two endurance racing veterans: Felipe Nasr, three-time IMSA champion making his sixth Le Mans appearance, and Nick Tandy, overall winner of the French classic in 2015 with Porsche, who will make his thirteenth start at Circuit de la Sarthe.

The Nasr-Tandy duo arrives with momentum after recently conquering North America's two classic endurance races: the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring.

Porsche's armada for Le Mans 2025

With Wehrlein's confirmation, the 21-car grid in the Hypercar category is now complete. Porsche will compete with four 963 units and three 911 GT3 Rs in the LMGT3 category.

Driver lineup in Hypercar category (Porsche 963):

Team Driver 1 Driver 2 Driver 3
Porsche Penske Motorsport #4 Felipe Nasr (BRA) Nick Tandy (GB) Pascal Wehrlein (GER)
Porsche Penske Motorsport #5 Julien Andlauer (FRA) Michael Christensen (DEN) Mathieu Jaminet (FRA)
Porsche Penske Motorsport #6 Matt Campbell (AUS) Kévin Estre (FRA) Laurens Vanthoor (BEL)
Proton Competition #99 Neel Jani (SUI) Nico Pino (CHI) Nico Varrone (ARG)

Driver lineup in LMGT3 category (Porsche 911 GT3 R):

Team Driver 1 Driver 2 Driver 3
Iron Dames #85 Rahel Frey (SUI) Michelle Gatting (DEN) Célia Martin (FRA)
Manthey #90 Antares Au (HK) Loek Hartog (NED) Klaus Bachler (AUT)
Manthey 1st Phorm #91 Ryan Hardwick (USA) Richard Lietz (AUT) Riccardo Pera (ITA)
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