Porsche Snatches Victory from Ferrari in Thrilling WEC Austin Race
Austin, Texas – Porsche penske Motorsport delivered a dramatic victory in the Six Hours of Austin, the third round of the FIA World Endurance Championship, snatching the lead from Ferrari AF Corse in the closing stages of a captivating race. The #6 Porsche 911, piloted by Kévin Estre, André Lotterer, and Laurens Vanthoor, crossed the finish line just 2.5 seconds ahead of the #51 Ferrari 499P, marking Porsche’s first win of the 2024 season and a significant shift in the championship battle.
The result at the Circuit of the Americas not only provides Porsche with crucial momentum in the Hypercar class standings but also halts Ferrari’s early championship dominance. Entering the Austin round, the #51 Ferrari held a 15-point lead, but the Porsche victory, combined with a third-place finish for the #52 ferrari, narrows the gap considerably. With two rounds remaining – Spa and Le mans – the fight for the World Endurance Championship title is now wide open.
The race was a strategic and tactical affair, characterized by intense battles throughout the Hypercar field. ferrari initially appeared to have the upper hand, with the #51 car consistently setting competitive lap times and maintaining a strong lead for much of the race. However, Porsche’s relentless pace and strategic pit stops allowed them to close the gap, culminating in a thrilling final hour where Estre relentlessly pressured the Ferrari of Alessandro Pier Guidi.”It was a really tough race, and the team did an amazing job with the strategy and the pit stops,” said Estre after the race.”We knew we had the pace to fight for the win, and we just had to stay patient and capitalize on any opportunities.”
The #52 Ferrari finished third, completing the podium, while the #7 Toyota GR010 Hybrid finished fourth. The race also saw challenges for othre contenders,including Cadillac Racing and BMW M Team WRT,who faced reliability issues and struggled to maintain pace with the leading manufacturers.
The WEC now heads to Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium for the fourth round of the championship on May 11th, setting the stage for a crucial prelude to the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans in June.the outcome in Austin has injected fresh excitement into the season,promising a fierce and unpredictable battle for the championship crown.Photo by: FIAWEC – DPPI
