A remarkable year is coming to an end. A year filled with surprises along with the ups and downs on multiple many levels. And the ups and downs of a rollercoaster are a fitting description for the year 2021 in Porsche Motorsport.
Many moments filled with joy, but also moments filled with hopes and fears throughout all race series, along with moments of disappointment – that’s it is sometimes in motorsport. The TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team experienced this rollercoaster of emotions throughout the season in regular intervals. That’s how they could display their current potential, gather experience, and draw attention with their performance. Yet there were also moments like during the ePrix in Mexico. Pascal Wehrlein passes the finish line first, achieves the first victory for the team – and doesn’t. From the sporting side of things, the victory was well-earned, but still it was disallowed due to an error in the rules. The disappointment couldn’t be put into words. Time was at a standstill. But in the end, this experience empowered the entire team. They stand united and face forward: The preparations for the next season are in their final stages, the next race for the podium and the world championship is already launched.
More than just close to home was another world championship: those of the WEC. After an accomplished season in the Porsche 911 RSR – which will enter its last race in 2022 – the factory team alongside the drivers Neel Jani and Kévin Estre wanted to crown themselves with the world championship title of the WEC. For a long time, things were looking good – throughout the entire season it was hard-fought for in a display of fierceness and rewarded by several victories. And all the way to the final round of the 8 Hours of Bahrain. On the metaphoric home stretch to the title, the rear of the Porsche 911 RSR was struck, sending it into a spin. Along with the top spot in Bahrain, the world championship was lost. That’s not the way you want to lose a championship title.
In the end, the team takeaway from 2021 for the new year is mostly positive. Because the fans want to give the already legendary 911 RSR a proper sendoff in its last season. And a world championship title as parting statement is something well-deserved for a race car of extraordinary caliber.
Toward the middle of the year, a special moment became apparent for the customer team Manthey Racing: After an impressive showing, the team crowned its anniversary with a victory at the Nürburgring 24 Hours. The driver trio consisting of Kévin Estre, Michael Christensen and Matteo Cairoli crossed the finish line first with the Porsche 911 GT3 R with the starting number 911 during the 49th edition of the long-distance classic in the Eifel. This is already the 7th overall victory in the “Green Hell” for the long-standing Porsche customer team – and the 8th is due to follow in 2022.
A true debut is among this year’s highlights In Porsche Motorsport: The first participation of the Porsche Esports Team in the Virtual Le Mans Series! Currently, the Porsche SimRacers are preparing for the season’s climax of the fully virtual race series. The 5th and final race is due in January: The grand finale for the closing will be the virtual 24 Hours of Le Mans.
For motorsport fans, the end of the year signifies another Porsche milestone closing in: The intense preparations for the beginning of the LMDh class in 2022. The project itself promises much: a new hypercar, thrilling challenges and an already heavily anticipated race kick-off for the Porsche Motorsport family.
Now that’s a vision to make the year 2022 more than welcome …
