Matt Campbell is optimistic that Porsche Penske Motorsport can kickstart its season in Sunday’s 6 Hours of Imola, predicting that the nature of the upcoming European circuits on the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship calendar will play more to the 963’s strengths.
The defending world champions struggled in the Qatar curtain-raiser earlier this year, taking the chequered flag just tenth and 11th – a far cry from the team’s podium double of 12 months earlier.
However, Campbell – who is participating in a part-time programme this season alongside Kévin Estre and Laurens Vanthoor in the #6 Hypercar – remains confident that the celebrated German marque can quickly bounce back from its Middle Eastern malaise, with sights set on a much stronger showing in Italy this weekend.
“For sure, Qatar wasn’t what we wanted coming off the back of last year,” the Australian acknowledged. “Nevertheless, that’s done and I think it’s coming back towards our kind of track layouts now. Imola is a new weekend and obviously completely different in style to the circuit and what we saw in Qatar. The weather could spice things up here too, but we’ve worked well in mixed conditions before.
“There are obviously some top manufacturers in the in the Hypercar category now, and really a big mix this season compared to last. I think we’ve seen, especially with our programme, the step we made from year one and year two, and there are a couple of manufacturers who joined us last year who have made a step this year as well.
“I think it just really goes to show how much learning there is to be done with these cars, and how tricky they can be – and we’re still learning all the time...”
