Porsche Penske Motorsport earned their first 2025 World Endurance Championship (WEC) victory on May 4th at the Circuit of the Americas during the Lone Star Le Mans race, overcoming significant Balance of Performance (BoP) penalties. Kevin Estre, driving the No. 6 Porsche 963, narrowly beat Miguel Molina in the No. 50 Ferrari AF Corse to claim the top spot on the podium.
Joining Estre in victory celebrations were teammates Laurens Vanthoor and Matt Campbell, completing the triumphant line-up for Porsche in this intense endurance race held in Austin, Texas.
Overcoming the Toughest BoP Adjustment of the Season
Before this sixth round of the 2025 season, Porsche’s 963 prototype faced the most substantial BoP changes, losing 13 kW of power and gaining an additional 12 kilograms, making it the third-heaviest car on the track following its strong podium finish in Brazil. Despite these handicaps, Porsche pushed through to secure their first win of the year.
The No. 6 Porsche finished 8.625 seconds ahead of the nearest rival, the No. 50 Ferrari AF Corse. While Porsche managed to prevail, the race remained fiercely competitive, especially against several Ferrari 499P entries that showed strong early pace but faltered amid Texas‘s unpredictable rain conditions.
Race Dynamics Through Changing Weather and Incidents
The race featured several shifts in leadership amid heavy rain and frequent safety car deployments, which challenged all competitors‘ strategies. Championship leaders, including the No. 51 Ferrari 499P and the No. 83 privateer AF Corse 499P, maintained control throughout the first half but suffered setbacks later. The No. 51’s race faltered after leading past the four-hour mark, partly due to a collision near race end that dropped the car down the order.
The No. 83 car, which had an opportunity to improve its championship standings, was penalized with a drive-through for speeding in pit lane, eventually rejoining in 13th place, diminishing their points chances.
Peugeot TotalEnergies benefited from recent BoP changes, finishing strongly with Stoffel Vandoorne driving the No. 94 car to third place on the podium and Mikkel Jensen’s No. 93 entry placing fourth.
Crucial Pass and Contact Decides Final Outcome
In the closing moments, with less than two minutes remaining, Kevin Estre overtook Pier Guidi in the No. 51 Ferrari. This move involved contact between the two, causing the No. 51 to lose positions as it was passed by its sister No. 50 Ferrari and the second Porsche entry, No. 5. The incident effectively secured Porsche’s victory while damaging the championship leader’s race hopes.
Other contenders gambled during the final 15 minutes by switching tire types as the track began drying, but some miscalculations were costly. For example, the No. 7 Toyota Gazoo Racing GR010 spun off after moving onto slick tires, highlighting the risks of late-race strategy calls in variable conditions.
Championship Implications and Future Outlook
The No. 51 Ferrari, despite its late difficulties, finished fifth ahead of the No. 38 Cadillac Hertz Team Jota. This result kept the championship battle tight as teams prepare for the remaining rounds of the season. Porsche’s ability to adapt and overcome the significant BoP penalties signals a strong challenge for future races.
With endurance racing’s unpredictability exacerbated by weather and regulations, the Lone Star Le Mans illustrated the ongoing strategic battles teams face. Porsche’s resilience in claiming their first 2025 WEC victory could prove pivotal in the championship race as competition intensifies in upcoming events.
