Porsche’s CEO set the scene at the Marque’s Night of Champions in Stuttgart this evening after an extraordinary year of success:
“On the racetrack we have experienced one of the most successful years in our company’s history. For 2016, we are placing emphasis on consistency and will again shift up a gear. We will be the only manufacturer to tackle three of the four classes at Le Mans,” he outlined in his speech.
LMP1
No surprises here after the announcement a couple of weeks ago of a two car full season effort (including Le Mans).
All six 2015 regular drivers in the Porsche 919 Hybrid will compete again in 2016.
Sharing driving duties in the #1 919 Hybrid are the winners of the 2015 Drivers’ World Championship, Timo Bernhard, Brendon Hartley and Mark Webber.
Romain Dumas, Neel Jani and Marc Lieb share the sister #2 919 Hybrid.
LM GTE Pro
As trailed here a single 2016 spec GTE Pro class 911 RSR will be fielded for the full season.
The car will be entered under the Dempsey Proton banner, prepared by the Proton Competition team.
Defending class drivers Champion Richard Lietz will be joined again by Michael Christensen with Wolf Henzler completing the trio for Le Mans.
Porsche will also seek a pair of additional entries for Le Mans 2015 WeatherTech GTLM Driver Champion Patrick Pilet will share one car with newly named Porsche Factory driver Kévin Estre and 2015 Le Mans winner Nick Tandy.
The sister 911 RSR for Le Mans sees Earl Bamber, Frédéric Makowiecki and Jörg Bergmeister join forces.
The two Le Mans only cars are set to be fielded under the Porsche Team Manthey Banner.
“We would be very pleased to receive confirmation from the ACO for two GTE-Pro grid spots at Le Mans,” said Head of Porsche Motorsport Dr. Frank-Steffen Walliser.
LM GTE Am
We’re expecting one full season Proton Competition entered LM GTE Am Porsche with a second car distinctly possible if not for a full season.
Patrick Dempsey, despite lending his name tot he GTE Pro effort (and likely one of the Am cars too), has not yet confirmed any racing appearances in 2016.
