Porsche - 2013 Le Mans

Porsche grabbed two class victories at the 81st running of the Le Mans 24 Hours. The class victories were the 99th and 100th for Porsche at the Circuit des 24 Heures. Porsche AG Team Manthey scored the top two spots in the highly competitive GTE-Pro class in its Porsche 911 RSR units, each completing 315 laps. Lording the GTE-Pro class is the No. 92 Porsche 911 RSR driven by Porsche works drivers Romain Dumas (France), Marc Lieb (Germany) and Richard Lietz (Austria), clocking 24 hours, 2 minutes and. Placing second is the No. 91 Porsche 911 RSR by Porsche works drivers Joerg Bergmeister (Germany), Timo Bernhard (Germany) and Patrick Pilet (France). Porsche won another crown after the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR fielded by customer team IMSA Performance Matmut dominated the GTE-Am class. The unit was driven by French drivers Raymond Narac, Jean-Karl-Vernay and Christophe Bourret.

Constant showers and difficult conditions graced the Le Mans 24 Hours, but it failed to mar the celebrations at Porsche AG Team Manthey's pit as they welcomed their winning racing cars, which were just over two minutes apart from each other at the finish line. Among those who welcomed the winners at the pit wall are Chairman of the Supervisory Board at Porsche AG Wolfgang Porsche and chief executive Matthias Mueller. Joining them are Board Members Wolfgang Hatz (Research and Development) and Bernhard Maier (Sales and Marketing).

Dr. Wolfgang Porsche, Chairman of the Supervisory Board at Porsche AG: “With the 99th and 100th class win and the double victory of the new 911 RSR, this Le Mans 24 hour race was a magnificent success for Porsche. I very much congratulate all those who have contributed. Our joy, however, is also mixed with sadness and shock at the death of Allan Simonsen. We have not only lost a passionate racer, but also a good friend of the Porsche motorsport family. He contested his first Le Mans 24 Hours in 2007 with a Porsche. With our works driver Marc Lieb in 2005, he contested two races of the Le Mans Endurance Series in a Porsche as well. Our deepest sympathy goes out to his family as well as the Aston Martin squad and his teammates at this difficult time.” [source: Porsche]