Porsche 963 Secures Second Row at Long Beach Grand Prix

Porsche Penske Motorsport's two factory-run Porsche 963 cars have successfully locked out the second grid row for the upcoming Long Beach Grand Prix. Nick Tandy and Mathieu Jaminet showcased impressive performances during qualifying, setting the stage for an exciting race in California.

Key Takeaways

Nick Tandy qualified third with a time of 1:11.989 minutes.
Mathieu Jaminet secured fourth place, just 0.279 seconds behind Tandy.
Jonny Edgar achieved second place in the GTD class during his first qualifying session.
The race will take place on April 12, 2025, at 2:05 PM local time.

Qualifying Highlights

The qualifying session took place under ideal conditions in Long Beach, with clear skies and temperatures around 19 degrees Celsius. After a foggy start to the day, the street circuit came alive as drivers vied for top positions.

Porsche 963 Performance: Both Tandy and Jaminet took a strategic approach, allowing their tires to reach optimal performance before attempting their flying laps. Tandy's late surge in the session secured him the third position, while Jaminet followed closely behind in fourth.
GTD Class Success: In the GTD class, Jonny Edgar made a remarkable debut, finishing second in his Porsche 911 GT3 R, just 0.060 seconds shy of pole position.

Team Insights

Urs Kuratle, Director of Factory Motorsport LMDh, expressed confidence in the team's performance, stating, "Our second-row starting positions are okay. We’re confident we can maintain a consistently fast pace over Saturday’s 100-minute race."

Jonathan Diuguid, Managing Director of Porsche Penske Motorsport, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the team's strong strategy and tire management heading into the race.

Driver Reactions

Nick Tandy (Porsche 963 #7): "Both cars on the second row - I think that’s a good starting position for Saturday’s race. Long Beach is completely different from what we’ve experienced recently at our successful long-distance races.
Mathieu Jaminet (Porsche 963 #6): "Fourth is okay, but I’m still a bit disappointed. I expected a little more after the two free practice sessions."
Jonny Edgar (Porsche 911 GT3 R #177): "I’m delighted to be driving the Porsche 911 GT3 R for the first time during a race weekend. Second place is fantastic, but I could’ve made up that little bit of time."

Upcoming Race Details

The Long Beach Grand Prix is set to commence on April 12, 2025, at 2:05 PM local time. Fans can catch the action through a free live stream available outside the U.S. and Canada.

With both Porsche 963 cars starting from the second row, the team is poised for a competitive race, aiming to continue their strong performance from the season's earlier rounds. The excitement is palpable as the drivers prepare to take on the challenges of the Long Beach street circuit, known for its tight corners and high stakes.