P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Late pitstop made Estre fear last-gasp Porsche WEC Qatar defeat
During the Qatar 1812Km race, the Penske-run factory Porsche 963 LMDh driven by the Frenchman, Laurens Vanthoor, and Andre Lotterer sustained serious bodywork damage, making the driver worried that stopping for repairs would jeopardize their lead over the chasing Peugeot. Despite the tough drive, the gap remained stable, giving Estre confidence they could finish the race without a lengthy pit stop. The Porsche Penske Motorsport team opted not to fix the extensive damage during a quick pit stop, merely replacing the adhesive race number and some bodywork. Despite losing time during the stop, Estre managed to maintain a lead of nearly 40 seconds over the pursuing Peugeot. Estre’s perseverance paid off when he secured the first WEC victory for the Porsche 963 LMDh, winning by 33 seconds after the Peugeot ran out of fuel towards the end of the race. The challenges of damaged bodywork and a patched-up car didn’t prevent Estre from achieving a historic victory, overcoming obstacles and fierce competition.
