IMSA WEATHERTECH SPORTSCAR CHAMPIONSHIP: 1 MOBILE TWELVE HOURS OF SEBRING

March 21, 2026

Julien Andlauer

Matt Campbell

Kevin Estre

Laurin Heinrich

Felipe Nasr

Laurens Vanthoor

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Pleased to be joined by our second-place finishers here in the GTP class, Kevin Estre, Matt Campbell and Laurens Vanthoor.

Larry, obviously a close fight all day between you and your teammates. Tell us about what went on there.

LAURENS VANTHOOR: Yeah, I mean, it was I think a brilliant day for Porsche, for Penske finishing 1-2. Julien and Laurin drove a really good race. The three of us also did our best. It was quite close.

Yeah, the rest, maybe Felipe has the honesty to tell you more about that (smiling).

THE MODERATOR: Matt, from your standpoint, third in the standings, one point behind second, obviously you want to win the race today, but dew.

MATT CAMPBELL: Yeah, you always want to win. At least the Porsche still won the race. Obviously that's the main thing for Porsche and Penske Motorsport. Yeah, I mean, you always want to get that top spot, but unfortunately today wasn't today. We all did a really good race today on car 6. We went to plan. Yeah, happy with my stint. Not much more to say.

THE MODERATOR: Kevin, talk us through maybe a little bit of strategy towards the end between you and No. 7.

KEVIN ESTRE: Well, there was not much sleep. We split, I think on similar strategy. We stop pretty much at the same time, just at some point different tires.

We were, yeah, back and forth. But definitely at some point there was a call from the pit stand which was not respected. On the other hand, I mean, I don't know. I was driving the car, respecting what we were saying, trying to optimize our strategy, trying to get to the end 'cause we needed to save some fuel. That's what I did.

Yeah, I think we both had to do the same, but somehow Felipe did something else, so... I don't know. That's the way it is. That's when the pass happened. Then towards the end I think he had the pace definitely in clean air. He was fast enough that I couldn't really attack. I would definitely have done it, but there was no opportunity.

So on (audio interruption) like one hour before the end something happened, which was not too fair from my side. That's why we're all very frustrated and it's not nice. But that's the way it is.

THE MODERATOR: In the No. 7 Porsche Penske Motorsport, Laurin Heinrich, Felipe Nasr and Julien Andlauer.

Laurin, obviously the endurance driver with this group, talk about how big this is to start off this relationship with back-to-back wins for you in that role.

LAURIN HEINRICH: Obviously it's incredible to be called up to this role. I was extremely excited to be part of an operation like this, of Porsche Penske Motorsport. We've just been so successful. To join the team was a big honor, but also a big test for myself to fulfill the expectations.

But the team has, yeah, prepared me extremely well. They are behind our back all the time. I'm not afraid to ask any question. Every question gets answered. I think that's why the team operates so well.

I mean, yes, we won with the No. 7, but in the end it's also 1-2 for Porsche Penske Motorsport today. We had a great race, great execution in Daytona as well. For me, as the third driver, winning these first two races of the season is exciting. Just my second overall endurance sports car victory. It's a pretty big day. Same like Daytona. I think it will take some days to realize what happened today.

THE MODERATOR: Felipe, a lot of milestones, lot of firsts. If you can put that into some context and talk us through especially the closing stint there for you.

FELIPE NASR: Yeah, like Sebring usually is, a pretty intense race. Exactly what we found out today from beginning to the end. I mean, there's always going to be all the versions, right? My version, the team versions, and the other drivers' versions. I stand for the (indiscernible). It's what I'm here for. I sign up for this program because I believe I can win for the program, I can win for the team.

My teammates did everything perfectly today. We build the race ahead. We did everything we needed to do to be in front at all times.

These guys deserve all the credit from the whole race that they've done. To me, I can only say it's another dream start, honestly. Last year we had the chance to do it. Now again winning here at Sebring, it's fantastic.

I love winning for Roger, I love winning for Penske, to our sponsors. And that's what I'm here for.

THE MODERATOR: Julien, joining the team for the full season, obviously couldn't have asked for a better start so far. Tell us about what it means for you.

JULIEN ANDLAUER: You said it right. I mean, the first full season for me in IMSA. Goes pretty well so far. Daytona was a hell of a race. Today didn't really start as we wanted. Went into some trouble. Luckily the car was in one piece. We had a great strategy I think on our car to go back to the front. The pace was great as well. Both cars did fantastic today on this.

Yeah, for me it's great to also get my first 12 hour win in Sebring.

THE MODERATOR: We'll start with questions.

Q. About two hours in the race, you were ninth. 20 minutes later you were up there at first. What was that drive to the front like? What were you feeling as you were picking your way through the field?

LAURIN HEINRICH: Yeah, was a great feeling. We got shuffled back. We took the opportunity to top off fuel. So I knew I would restart from dead last.

It was still early in the race, so I wanted to take it easy. Relatively soon, basically already exiting the last corner when I overtook the first car, I realized I've got some grip, I have a good car. The tires were in the window from the restart onwards. I could really use it to my advantage.

In the end, yeah, I could cycle to the front. Was amazing to bring us back after this first little setback which we had in the first quarter of the race. From that moment on, we just maintained the lead. It worked out pretty well.

For sure in this time of the race, you don't take the risks that you would take at the end of the race. But I think it was pretty controlled. Also it wasn't easy. In the heat of the day, this moment we were still double stinting the tires. You have to think really far ahead how you treat the tires so you have some juice left in the second stint.

For me this is still pretty new. I'm tiptoeing, still building that experience, especially in these kind of scenarios.

Q. Larry, can you talk about what happened with you and Earl there under the yellow?

LAURENS VANTHOOR: I owed payback from a couple years ago. No, I'm kidding (smiling).

It was just an unfortunate situation I think. I just started to get heat in the brakes, so they were cold. At the moment I accelerated, they all checked up a lot. I had no time. I couldn't slow down. I tried to avoid. He was also avoiding. We just touched.

But I spoke to say sorry about what happened. There were no hard feelings. It was just, I mean -- it was my bad, but I think it was just a very unfortunate situation coming together.

It shouldn't happen. Yeah, luckily for both of us, there were no big consequences.

Q. Changed the belts afterwards?

LAURENS VANTHOOR: Yes, but for us there was not too much damage. We had to of course precautionary change it. He had to come in earlier. I saw in the second stint I was already back up. Luckily for the both of us, I don't think it had any big influence.

Q. Kevin, can you just expand a little bit on the frustrations with Felipe? What were you suggesting? Second to last stop?

KEVIN ESTRE: No, we're not redoing the race here. We had some calls from the pit stand. While driving you assume being 1-2 that both cars had the same call, which I got the confirmation we both had the same call. Felipe decided to do something else, which in the end brought him the race. That's it really.

There's nothing more for me to say. I just respect what the team told me. It was not to play or anything. It was just to save fuel to go to the end with the amount of yellow. We didn't know. In the end there was a lot of yellow. We didn't need to pit again. Otherwise, we'd be tight on fuel.

That's what happened in the end. I don't know. Felipe can say what he feels. I just know what I felt, what was the rule, what was the communication. I think it was quite clear from both sides from what I understood.

But in the end it didn't happen that way, so... That's the way it is.

Q. Felipe?

FELIPE NASR: I don't think I have much to say, honestly. I think I said it before. I'm here to win at the end of the day. I did it for the team. That's what it matters. It's a 1-2 in the end. Big point today for the whole organization.

Q. Felipe, was there a call to hold the position after the final restart when you were in the lead?

FELIPE NASR: I can't go in details, guys, honestly. I'm here to race. That's what I did today. What those guys did today, that's why we should be celebrating here today. It's a victory, right?

Like I said, there's always going to be two, three sides of the story. But what matters is today we come out winning, winning for the team, for the brand. This is what we're here for. That's what we do our jobs for.

Q. Along the same lines, you are all great drivers, two great cars, with a great team. You expect this is the kind of situation that is going to come up more than once during the course of the season.

KEVIN ESTRE: We were fighting the whole race. Being 1-2, we were ahead, you know? We were always knowing that this could happen. It's always the case when teammates fight. We have the same car. We have the same weakness and the same strength. It's always difficult to fight.

We also have to think about Porsche, which is paying us, and Penske, and respect what they say. I will not say more.

LAURENS VANTHOOR: I think it's a great organization, what we drive for, and we're all privileged to drive for them, and we are clearly the strongest in the last 36 hours. That's why we're all sitting here.

It's a great organization which has rules and things in place for us to be the most successful. That's why we swap on pit lane. That's why we do. There's certain rules connected to that. It only works if we all play the same card. Obviously, yeah, that's where some frustration now is created.

But yeah, I think it's important to know, though.