Thomas Preining embraces WEC challenges
The FIA World Endurance Championship has been a young breeding ground for young endurance racing talent since its inception in 2012.
Brendon Hartley, Mathias Beche, Kevin Estre, Thomas Laurent and Gustavo Menezes are just some of the names that have gone on to big things in the world of sportscars and beyond.
Among the new generation of talent is Porsches’ Thomas Preining who made his WEC debut at Fuji Speedway in 2018.
The Austrian was made an official Porsche Junior driver in 2017 before becoming a fully-fledged factory athlete in December 2019.
“The WEC is a very strong competition - we all know this and we all enjoy it,” explains Preining.
“In LMGTE Am this season there is a big upgrade in both the competition and variety of cars out there. I think that it is tougher to compare the top drivers here now because there are so many good guys in this class.
“What I like is the team ethic aspect. In this class [LMGTE AM] there is a big emphasis on working as a unit because we have a variety of drivers in categories: gold, silver, bronze, etc. This means you have to leave some of the selfish parts of being a racing driver in the [pit] box.”
Preining is also a firm believer that the WEC is an ideal championship for young sportscar talent to not only learn but also to hone their skills for the future.
“All us young guys want to make a good career - we want to win and we want to represent top manufacturers and be the best,” says the 21 year-old.
“When you are with a manufacturer like Porsche which has such an incredible history in this sport it is an honour to drive for them. Personally speaking, I cannot think of a better manufacturer to race for. This is because we race hard, learn about strategies and also how teams work.
“Dempsey Proton Racing gives us lots of responsibilities and this is nice as it gives you more confidence and a good education in the car.
Preining concludes: “This combined with what I am learning in and out of the car as an official Porsche puts me in a very nice position for my career.”
Preining will be back on WEC duty at the Lonestar Le Mans at the Circuit of the Americas next month (22-23 February).
