Kevin Estre has achieved his first victory in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, putting an end to a long wait during the Petit Le Mans race, held at the Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. The French driver, who has had a season marked by near victories and controversies, shared the car with Laurens Vanthoor and Matt Campbell, driving the #6 Porsche Penske Motorsport 963 to a notable victory in his 32nd race in the series.
Up to this point, Estre had accumulated 11 podiums without achieving a victory, including five in GT competition and six podiums in the top category. Saturday’s victory represents a moment of great relief for him.
The Frenchman shared his satisfaction saying that ‘it’s finally good to achieve this first victory’ after three years of attempts in the race. The competition was tough, with numerous rivals and a strategy that became complicated with penalties and several pit stops. ‘We knew we had a good car in clear air, but it was difficult to overtake,’ he commented.
This victory not only marks a moment of joy for Estre, but also represents Porsche’s second overall victory at Petit Le Mans, being the first with a prototype after the 2015 victory with a GTLM. For Team Penske, it is their first win in the ten-hour race after three previous victories in the LMP2 class.
A tumultuous season toward triumph
Estre’s season has not been easy, with crucial moments such as his frustration during the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring race, where his teammate, Felipe Nasr, overlooked team orders to win the race. This generated visible tension during the post-race press conference.
Throughout the season, Estre’s situation was exacerbated by adjustments to the Balance of Performance (BoP) that hindered his progress. However, he managed to secure a podium in Long Beach before a collision at Road America left him in a probation situation for the rest of the season.
Facing a chaotic challenge during Petit Le Mans
Saturday’s race was dramatic, with 16 caution periods and a necessary red flag due to electrical discharges. With almost half of the race time spent under caution and pit stops, the #6 drivers had to gain ground against the obstacles they encountered during the event.
Reflecting on the emotional weight of his penalty, Estre expressed that ‘it was difficult to drive knowing they were watching every move.’ Now, with this victory behind him, he looks to the future with his first race of 2027 at Daytona, hoping to overcome all challenges with the confidence of being able to start anew.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
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