Laurin Heinrich keeps IMSA GTP title hopes alive with late surge to Indianapolis podium
A relentless late-race charge by Laurin Heinrich secured a dramatic third-place finish for Porsche Penske Motorsport (PPM) at the Battle on the Bricks, keeping his own and the team's slim IMSA GTP driver and manufacturer championship hopes alive heading into the season finale. Drafted into the #6 Porsche 963 as part of the factory squad’s championship strategy - replacing Laurens Vanthoor - ...…
Laurin Heinrich's late-race surge secured a thrilling third-place finish for Porsche Penske Motorsport (PPM) at the Battle on the Bricks, keeping both his and the team's slim IMSA GTP driver and manufacturer championship hopes alive. Drafted into the #6 Porsche 963 after Laurens Vanthoor, Heinrich and teammate Kevin Estre held the top five for most of the 112-lap endurance test after a chaotic Turn 1 incident sent the #7 entry to the garage.
Taking over for the final stint, the 24-year-old German climbed from fifth to third and crossed the line after the second-place #31 Action Express Racing Whelen Cadillac V-Series driven by Earl Bamber and Jack Aitken. Heinrich trails Aitken by 147 points in the championship, but his strong performance restricted what could have been a decisive points gap.
Cadillac is currently leading Porsche by 136 points in the manufacturer title race. Despite the result, Heinrich expressed mixed emotions, stating he lives for winning and is glad to be back with PPM, marking another chapter in his dynamic 2026 campaign.
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