Pascal Wehrlein is targeting Le Mans glory before his topline career finishes and could begin that journey in 2025.
The reigning Formula E champion tested for the JDC Miller team at Daytona last month and is said to have been quick with the team that runs cars in the Weathertech IMSA Sportscar Championship. He shared the car on that occasion with Tijmen van der Helm, Gianmaria Bruni and Chris Miller.
Bruni was confirmed last week as dropping off the Porsche factory squad but could still be involved with JDC Miller next year.
For the first time in several years Formula E does not clash with the Rolex24 at Daytona next month and Wehrlein could make an appearance in Florida. Additionally, seats are believed to still be available in a third Porsche Penske 963 entry for the Le Mans 24 Hours which is yet to feature any confirmed drivers.
Prior to his Daytona run, Wehrlein had prior knowledge of the Porsche 963 Hybrid car after taking part in an endurance test at Sebring in October 2022.
“I don’t have a lot of experience with the car,” said Wehrlein. And obviously also the last couple of years I’ve only raced in Formula E but it was great to be back also in a different car and get that feeling again,” Wehrlein told Formula E Notebook.
“The car reminds me a lot of the DTM. That’s what I said already a couple of years ago when I tested in Sebring. It really reminds me of the feeling let’s say of old DTM times. Not today’s DTM, but when I drove DTM before that.
“Straight away I felt comfortable at Daytona. The first laps on the banking was quite a cool experience. I didn’t have time to go in the simulator or prepare or anything because I just got the call two days before going there.
“It was cool, I really enjoyed it. Also, with the team working there it’s a whole different atmosphere in the US and doing those IMSA tests which was nice.
When asked if he could race in 2025 Wehrlein was coy but did say “let’s see how it fits. My main priority is Formula E and always will be.
“It was really short notice the test in Daytona. The team in the US, they asked my team if they have a driver. I guess by winning the championship I got preference and they asked me if I want to do it, so I said why not.
“They said ‘tomorrow you need to jump in the plane and go to the US’ so it was very short notice. Thank you very much, I will do it. Let’s see the next couple of days and weeks what could work out additionally to my main programme.”
Wehrlein, who was briefly hospitalised in an accident in last Saturday’s Formula E race in Sao Paulo, could join teammate Antonio Felix da Costa in making an appearance in some endurance events next year.
Former Le Mans and FIA WEC LMP2 champion da Costa was pulled from his endurance racing commitments at the end of 2023 by Porsche but has been freed up again to take part in the Rolex24 in January with Inter Europol Competition and could also be racing at Le Mans again next June.
Why Le Mans is such a Career Goal
Wehrlein has long held a thirst for racing at Le Mans and confessed to FEN that he wanted to race there and wanted “win at Le Mans”.
“That’s a big goal of my career,” he added. “Saying that, I just turned 30 years old and I feel like, out of my career that’s the next thing I should win, or I want to win.
“I’ve won DTM, I’ve won Formula E, and then I’ve won Le Mans, so I think there’s not much more in my position what I could win. That’s why it’s such a big goal for me.”
Logistically Le Mans will be a challenge for Porsche’s factory Formula E drivers as both the Shanghai and Jakarta EPrixs straddle the test day and the race week itself.
The Shanghai double header will take place on the weekend of the 31st May,/1st June a week before the test day. Jakarta is then scheduled for the weekend following Le Mans.
Main photo: JDC Motorsports
