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, co-driven by the Frenchman and shared with Laurens Vanthoor and Andre Lotterer, suffered significant bodywork damage in the final hours. Despite the tough driving conditions, driver Estre maintained a constant lead, resisting a pit stop for repairs. Eventually, a short stop was necessary due to the damage, but the team assured Estre that everything was under control. Porsche Penske Motorsport opted not to make extensive repairs during the final pit stop, only replacing the race number and a section of bodywork. In spite of the setbacks, Estre managed to secure victory, the first for the 963 and an LMDh car, finishing 33s ahead of the nearest competitor. The race was marked by challenging encounters with LMGT3 machinery, causing difficulty in driving and leading to various bodywork issues for the Porsche 963.
