Laurin Heinrich marked a remarkable Le Mans debut by clinching a class victory on his first Le Mans appearance and his first foray into LMP2, achieving the result at the wheel of a Porsche and alongside teammates who helped him quickly settle into the legendary French circuit and the Oreca 07 Gibson.
The Porsche factory driver partnered with George Kurtz and Alex Quinn to secure a decisive one-lap triumph in the LMP2 Pro-Am category, as Algarve Pro Racing, led by Stewart and Samantha Cox, produced a near-clean race.
It represented the second Le Mans class win for Kurtz, the founder and CEO of CrowdStrike, in just four starts, his first coming during his 2023 Le Mans debut with co-drivers Colin Braun and James Allen.
Speaking with Sportscar365 after the chequered flag, Heinrich said the 24-hour endurance classic delivered on the anticipation and went without major drama.
“We didn’t encounter any major issues,” he noted. “There were no track-limit penalties, the pit stops were smooth, and the team performed flawlessly. My teammates were outstanding.”
“That kind of trust is crucial in a 24-hour race. We placed a lot of reliance on each other, and it paid off this weekend.”
“Heading here with CrowdStrike Racing by APR, alongside George—who has tasted Le Mans victory before—and Alex, who brings extensive LMP2 experience, there were high expectations.”
“I also hold personal aspirations; I race to win. For me, victory is the goal, so I wouldn’t come here merely to contend. That isn’t how I approach Le Mans.”
“Yet you cannot assume victory is guaranteed; Le Mans is such a formidable challenge,” Heinrich added. “Winning after two long days is a tremendous reward. I’m genuinely grateful for this opportunity, and I hope it’s the first of many.”
This triumph also marks Heinrich’s second 24-hour victory of the year, following his overall win at January’s Rolex 24 at Daytona with Porsche Penske Motorsport, a race in which Kurtz secured the LMP2 class honors.
“It’s emotional,” Heinrich reflected. “It’s not just about the race itself; it’s the entire event. As the days pass, you absorb the atmosphere and realize just how special Le Mans is, how unique this environment feels.”
He attributed the hardest part of the weekend to mastering the LMP2 car, given only limited time in the prototype during a prior test at Watkins Glen International earlier in the month.
“The track wasn’t the main hurdle for me in terms of speed; the challenge was getting used to the car itself, which is highly specific to drive,” he explained.
“It’s unlike anything I’ve driven before, but I enjoy challenges and adapting. I discovered that resilience in my simulator days, and I’ve found that being versatile makes you a better driver.”
In addition, Heinrich finished as the highest-placed Porsche IMSA GTP driver in the race, with the No. 04 Oreca securing seventh place in the overall LMP2 standings.
Both Kevin Estre and Julien Andlauer participated, with Estre’s TDS Racing entry finishing fifth in Pro-Am after rebounding from an incident at Indianapolis, while Andlauer’s Duqueine Team was on track for outright LMP2 class honors until a brake rotor issue in the closing stages halted their charge.
Following his unofficial status as the Porsche GTP driver subclass winner, Heinrich has already voiced a desire to return to Le Mans in the future.
A Hypercar program for next year appears unlikely, given Porsche has no present plans to rejoin the WEC’s top class, though opportunities could arise in LMP2 or if additional Porsche 911 GT3 R Evos receive invitations from the ACO’s selection committee.
“I definitely want to come back,” he stated. “There’s nothing quite like Le Mans in endurance racing. I hope to be back in 2027 and, ideally, add another win.”
Stephen Lickorish contributed to this report
