Interview with Thomas Laudenbach

Question: How do you classify the Porsche Motorsport year 2021?

Thomas Laudenbach: It was a challenging year, still under the influence of the pandemic. In customer sport, however, it was still very successful in both economic and sporting terms. Most events were able to take place and we were once again able to welcome spectators at the track. Our customers won countless victories - I'm particularly happy about that. There were 30 one-make cups worldwide in 2021, which is impressive. In the WEC, despite great performances by the development team, the racing team and the drivers, we unfortunately lost the world championship with the RSR in the final minutes of the season in Bahrain - a bitter moment, but that's also part of motorsport. In Formula E, we continuously improved but didn't manage to transform this into results - disappointing for everyone involved in the end.

Question: What do you personally take away from 2021?

Thomas Laudenbach: That we have a great team and powerful partners - a very good basis. The challenges in the coming years, both in customer racing and in works racing, are enormous. Particularly in racing series like Formula E and in the future with the LMDh prototypes, we have to adapt even better to the specific boundary conditions and work even more focused than before.

Question: How were your first months as the new Head of Porsche Motorsport?

Thomas Laudenbach: Very intensive, the learning curve is steep. Fritz Enzinger is there to advise me, which is very helpful and I'm grateful to him for that. I really enjoy the work - it's a challenge. We have started to set a course for the future with the management team, and we will continue to work on this.

Question: What were your personal motorsport high- and lowlights this year?

Thomas Laudenbach: Highlight certainly the appointment as Head of Motorsport and the successful conclusion of the IWSC season in Road Atlanta at the Petit Le Mans for our customer teams in both the GTD and GTLM classes. Lowlights were the "lost" world championship title at the WEC season finale in Bahrain and the disqualification of the Formula E victory in Mexico.

 

 

Question: Formula E, GT series and world championship titles: What are your goals for 2022?

 

Thomas Laudenbach: Wining the WEC and Le Mans with the RSR in our last year of works racing, finally making it to the top of the podium in Formula E and competing for the world championship as well as topping the already very successful year 2021 with our customers worldwide.

Question: What does Porsche Motorsport in the future look like in your imagination - also with a view to the recently unveiled Mission R?

Thomas Laudenbach: We must continue to be victorious in the series in which we compete in the future – that is and will remain our primary goal. In the process, the landscape will change; sustainability and digitalization will also play an even greater role in motorsport than before. As Porsche Motorsport, we want to drive electrification and not be followers. With the Mission R as a concept for a customer racing car, we have set out in this direction. Motorsport will continue to be an integral part of Porsche in the future. Our task is to do everything necessary for this ...