Laurens Vanthoor defended a tight lead on the final restart to clinch the first overall win for Porsche Penske Motorsport at the Motul Petit Le Mans on Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
Porsche Penske Captures the Overall Title
The Belgian, partnered with Kevin Estre and Matt Campbell, nudged BMW M Team WRT’s Sheldon van der Linde from 13 minutes of sprint racing to a 1.205‑second margin. The win marks Porsche’s inaugural top‑class triumph at the Georgia‑based circuit, a first that only dates back to a GT‑class victory in 2015.
The team’s momentum continued after a late double‑stop in Friday’s group session, strengthening a 63‑second lead over a rival field that included a strong debut by Heart of Racing’s Roman De Angelis with the Aston Martin Valkyrie.
Laurens Vanthoor’s attack on the last restart, after holding a slim 0.9‑second cushion, proved decisive. He maintained a growing advantage over van der Linde, who struggled to close the gap amid the closing switch‑to‑stop for fuel and energy.
LMP2 Victory for Crowdstrike Racing
Alex Quinn recovered from late‑race damage to narrow the rear‑clip failure and secured an LMP2 win. He overcame a late collision with title‑contender Tom Dillmann, which forced a rapid pit stop for a new rear clip.
Quinn, alongside co‑drivers George Kurtz and Toby Sowery, held a 8.3‑second advantage over Di Resta at the finish, cementing Crowdstrike Racing by APR’s position at the top of the class.
GT Classes Delivered Multiple Triumphs
Car Blanche took the GTD Pro crown, while Winward Racing defended its third consecutive GTD title by finishing first in that class.
In GTD, after a tense battle between Philip Ellis and Martin Wadoux, the former emerged with a 0.172‑second lead before a final pit stop allowed the latter to drop behind, and a subsequent move by Antonio Fuoco saw the AF Corpo USA entry take the lead at the end.
Key Incidents and 16 Cautions
The 15‑caution event was punctuated by multiple on‑track incidents. Notable moments included Alex Riberas’s spin from a tire‑barrier collision, a collision between Bamber and Ross Gunn that prompted a drive‑through penalty, and a later crash by Bamber that triggered the 16th caution.
Throughout the race, 16 separate stoppages altered pit strategy and reshaped leaders across the classes. The series of caution periods, coupled with a high incident rate, showcased the fierce competition at Road Atlanta.
Final Standings and Future Outlook
Laurens Vanthoor’s strategic pace control and decisive final‑lap maneuver secured Porsche Penske Motorsport’s 10‑th overall victory at the Petit Le Mans. The team now consolidates its growing reputation on the IMSA WeatherTech schedule, while the LMP2, GTD Pro, and GTD categories demonstrate the depth of performance across the field.
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