Porsche entries confirmed for Le Mans 24 Hours

Porsche AG will enter two new 911 RSR race cars based on the 'Type 991' model generation at this year's Le Mans 24 Hours and in the World Endurance Championship. Entry for the newly-developed vehicles sporting the starting numbers 91 and 92 was confirmed for the GTE
class by the organisers ACO and FIA in Paris. The factory squad 'Porsche AG Team Manthey' will run both 911 RSR race cars.

Contesting the event in the number 92 Porsche 911 RSR are Porsche works drivers Marc Lieb (Germany) and Richard Lietz (Austria). The pair has already shared a cockpit in last year's WEC. At the first two rounds of the season in Silverstone (April 14) and Spa (May 4) as well as at the Le Mans 24 hour race (June 22) they will receive reinforcement from their works driver colleague Romain Dumas (France).

Works drivers also pilot the number 91 sister car: Joerg Bergmeister (Germany) teams up with Patrick Pilet (France). In Silverstone, Spa and Le Mans the duo are joined by Timo Bernhard (Germany).

Additionally, the customer teams IMSA Performance Matmut and Felbermayr Proton have received a starting place in the WEC and at Le Mans, fielding the predecessor model (Type 997) Porsche 911 GT3 RSR in the GTE-Am category. At the wheel of the IMSA Matmut 911, Raymond Narac (France) shares driving duties with Jean-Karl Vernay (France) who contests the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup with backing from Porsche AG this year. Vernay is the reigning champion of the Porsche Carrera Cup France.

The customer team Dempsey Racing-Proton is also delighted with its acceptance to contest the Le Mans 24 Hours. Hollywood star Patrick Dempsey, who is known especially for his role as Dr. Derek Shepherd aka 'McDreamy' in the hit television series Grey's Anatomy, previously contested the Le Mans race in 2009 and now climbs back into the cockpit.

"We are very much looking forward to returning to Le Mans with a Porsche works team for the first time since 1998," said Hartmut Kristen, Head of Porsche Motorsport. "The new 911 RSR performed well in earlier tests and is already proving extremely reliable on the track. Between them, our six drivers have scored eight class wins in Le Mans and have a great deal of experience with different 911 race cars. And our customer teams in the GTE-Am class are also well prepared for the 2013 season."

Posted in: 911 RSR,ACO,FIA,Hartmut Kristen,International,Le Mans,Marc Lieb,Motor Sports,Patrick Pilet,Porsche,Porsche AG Team Manthey,Porsche Motorsport,Richard Lietz,Silverstone,Spa,Timo Bernhard