Kevin Estre has broken his unlucky streak in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with an exciting victory at the Motul Petit Le Mans held at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. After 31 attempts without a win, the French driver, accompanied by Laurens Vanthoor and Matt Campbell, secured the triumph behind the wheel of the Porsche 963 from Porsche Penske Motorsport.
Estre, who had secured 11 podiums without wins, appeared visibly emotional. “It means a lot to me, I’m certainly starting to get on in years,” he declared after the race. His perseverance was key, as he had to overcome multiple setbacks and penalties during the competition.
The victory not only represents a moment of personal relief for Estre but also marks a new chapter for Porsche, which achieves its second overall win at Petit Le Mans, the first with a prototype after its victory in the GT category in 2015. Additionally, it is a historic moment for the team, completing a triple in North America after winning the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring in the same season.
The path to victory has been turbulent for Estre, marked by difficult moments such as the controversial race at Sebring, where he lost an apparent victory due to a misunderstanding with a teammate. After adjustments in performance balance, the season continued with ups and downs, including an incident at Road America that left him in a testing situation for the rest of the season.
During the ten-hour race, which was marked by a record 16 caution periods and a red flag, Estre’s team had to fight for the driving partners to maintain focus and tactics amidst the chaos. Closing the race, the victory was confirmed thanks to the tenacity and skill of the team, with Estre acknowledging the help of his teammates.
With this victory under his belt, Estre looks to the future with optimism, preparing for a fresh start in the upcoming season at Daytona. “I’m happy to be able to start over next year, trying to keep myself clean,” concluded the French driver.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
