Pascal Wehrlein, fresh off his championship-winning FIA Formula E season, is set to make his debut at the prestigious IMSA 24 Hours of Daytona. The reigning world champion has joined the JDC Miller MotorSports team to compete behind the wheel of the #85 Porsche 963 GTP.
This marks a daring new challenge for Wehrlein, as he embarks on the 63rd edition of the Daytona race scheduled for January 25-26, 2025. Following his dominance in the Formula E series, Wehrlein is eager to prove himself on the long-distance racing stage. "I wanted to drive sports cars for a long time – this is one of my goals as a racing driver. Now I have the opportunity to prove myself there too. I'm really excited about it," he stated.
His path to sports cars has been long and varied. Wehrlein first experienced the Porsche 963 LMDh during a test drive at Sebring back in 2022. Recently, he participated in an IMSA-sanctioned test at Daytona last month, where he fine-tuned his skills behind the wheel of this advanced machine.
Notably, Wehrlein's preparations for Daytona have not been without challenges. The German driver is currently recovering from injuries sustained during a crash in São Paulo but remains optimistic about making a full recovery before the legendary endurance event. "The test drives with JDC-Miller MotorSports mid-November went well. The Porsche 963 reminded me of the DTM cars of my time – I felt comfortable. I'm recovering from my accident in São Paulo. But I want to go full throttle again in January," he noted.
JDC Miller MotorSports, having been a Porsche customer team since the 2024 IMSA SportsCar Championship season, will field the #85 Porsche 963 GTP. This hybrid prototype has drawn comparisons to the DTM vehicles where Wehrlein excelled earlier in his career. His addition to the lineup significantly bolsters the team's presence as they aim to mark their territory in one of the most competitive endurance races worldwide.
Porsche is set to make quite the statement at Daytona, featuring four Porsche 963s competing, including two factory-supported entries partnered with Team Penske, one from customer team Proton Competition, and JDC Miller MotorSports completing the impressive lineup.
The action kicks off with the Roar Before the 24 preliminary test from January 17 to 19, providing teams with invaluable preparation time. The main event will take place the following week, as the green flag waves on January 25 for 24 hours of high-stakes endurance racing.
Wehrlein's forayinto endurance racing marks yet another exciting chapter in his already illustrious career. From single-seaters to electric racing and now sports cars, he continues to exemplify his versatility and hunger for new challenges. With the motorsport world closely watching, many will be curious if Wehrlein's success in Formula E can translate to the demanding rigors of long-distance racing.
Given his innate talent and determination, Wehrlein could very well be the X-factor JDC Miller MotorSports needs for a memorable outcome at Daytona 2025.
