Porsche customer team celebrates first win of season

Porsche has concluded the 2019 year with another victory in the FIA World Endurance Championship.

At the eight-hour race in Sakhir, Bahrain, American Ben Keating and his two Dutchmen teammates Larry ten Voorde and Jeroen Bleekemolen won the GTE-Am class in their #57 Porsche 911 RSR.

After claiming pole position, the Project 1 team has moved to the top of the overall classification thanks to their maiden victory. The Porsche GT Team (GTE-Pro) has enjoyed an outstandingly successful 2019 season, however the squad was struck by misfortune at the eight-hour race.

The new Porsche 911 RSR had at times held the lead, only to have technical problems relegate both works-run vehicles far down the field. A shock absorber broke on the #92 car driven by the world champions Kevin Estre and Michael Christensen, while a wheel nut on the sister car manned by Gianmaria Bruni and Richard Lietz came loose and caused tyre damage. The repairs resulted in both 508bhp cars losing about two laps to the frontrunners.

In the GTE-Am class, the three customer teams gave an impressive performances with their 503bhp Porsche 911 RSR in 2017-spec. In addition to the race winners Keating, Bleekemolen and ten Voorde, the #86 car fielded by Gulf Racing also took the lead at times.

The all-British driver crew of Michael Wainwright, Ben Barker and Andrew Watson concluded the final race of the year in position three after receiving a drive-through penalty. The #77 Porsche 911 RSR, shared by the works driver Matt Campbell, Dempsey-Proton Racing team owner Christian Ried and Riccardo Pera, finished in sixth place. The #88 sister car retired after an accident. Project 1's #56 vehicle took the flag in ninth place after a lengthy pit stop for repairs.