Earl Bamber took the No. 31 Whelen Action Express Cadillac V-Series.R to victory in the Petit Le Mans, deftly slicing through traffic to win the 2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season finale.
Roman De Angelis finished second in the No. 23 Aston Martin Valkyrie, which earned its first podium in the Grand Touring Prototype category since becoming the only Hypercar in IMSA.
Mathieu Jaminet finished third in the No. 6 Porsche Penske Motorsport, clinching the GTP championship. It’s the second consecutive title for PPM, which won the title last year with its No. 7 963 entry.
PETIT LE MANS: Overall results l By category
It’s the second consecutive victory to end the season for the No. 31, which won last month at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Bamber co-drove with Jack Aitken and Frederik Vesti.
“We had a wicked fast car all day, there was a lot of strategy going on as well, but full credit to this Whelen Cadillac,” Bamber told NBC Sports’ Kevin Lee after his first Petit Le Mans win. “We’ve had a fast car the last couple of races, and it’s amazing to get back to back wins for the team. We’ve been digging all season, and this is just a tribute to everyone at Cadillac and back at the shop.
“It is one of the big ones, one of the ones that every single driver in the world wants to win. Managed to finally capture one overall, so it’s definitely a special moment.”
Team owner Roger Penske, who watched the 10-hour race from the pit box, won his 15th sports car championship, and his teams also clinched the manufacturer title for Porsche.
“This is a magic moment for us,” Penske said. “Great day, I won’t forget it.”
The race winners in other categories:
LMP2: No. 11 TDS Racing ORECA LMP2
GTD Pro: No. 48 Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3 EVO
GTD: No. 21 Af Corse Ferrari 296 GT3
One hour to go
With an hour remaining in the Petit Le Mans, Cadillac and Porsche are poised to celebrate at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
Earl Bamber is leading in the No. 31 Whelen Action Express Cadillac V-Series.R, leading Mathieu Jaminet in the No. 6 Porsche Penske Motorsport 963 by more than 5 seconds.
The No. 23 Thor Aston Martin Valkyrie was running third in search of its first podium in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
HOUR 9: Overall results l By category
HOUR 8: Overall results l By category
The No. 6 963 will cinch the Grand Touring Prototype championship with a top-eight finish. Porsche also will claim the manufacturer champinoship by finishing ahead of Acura.
The race has been slowed by six caution flags, but all were tin the first six hours.
The leaders in other categories with an hour remaining:
LMP2: No. 18 ERA Motorsport ORECA LMP2 07
GTD Pro: No. 48 Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3 EVO
GTD: No. 023 Triarsi Competizione Ferrari 296 GT3
Cadillac in control as night falls
With the sun setting on Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, Cadillac is in control of the 28th annual Petit Le Mans, and Porsche Penske Motorsport has the Grand Touring Prototype championship in sight with its points leader.
With Laurens Vanthoor behind the wheel, the No. 6 963 was comfortably running in third place with three hours remaining in the 2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season finale.
Frederik Vesti was leading by more than 20 seconds in the No. 31 Whelen Action Express Cadillac V-Series.R. Dries Vanthoor, Laurnens’ younger brother, was second in the No. 24 BMW M Hybrid V8, which still has an outside chance at the title with a victory in the team’s final race with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.
HOUR 7: Overall results l By category
PPM’s No. 7 963 entry, which entered 128 points behind the No. 6 in the GTP championship hunt, was in seventh, the last car on the lead lap. The No. 6 can clinch the championship in the premier hybrid prototype class with a top-eight finish.
The leaders in other categories with three hours remaining:
LMP2: No. 22 United Autosports USA ORECA LMP2 07
GTD Pro: No. 48 Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3 EVO
GTD: No. 21 Triarsi Competizione Ferrari 296 GT3
Porsche in front at midway
Halfway through the 10-hour Petit Le Mans, Mathieu Jaminet was leading in the Porsche Penske Motorsport No. 6 963 but under intense pressure from Earl Bamber in the No. 31 Cadillac V-Series.R of Whelen Action Express.
The No. 24 BMW M Hybrid V8 of BMW M Team RLL was running third, keeping its long-shot bid for the championship alive.
After winning last year’s championship with the No. 7 963, Porsche Penske Motorsport remains in solid position to win its second consecutive Grand Touring Prototype title with either entry this season. The No. 6 entered the season finale with a 128-point lead over the No. 7 and needs a top-eight finish to clinch the title.
HOUR 5: Overall results l By category
In the manufacturer championship standings, Porsched leads by two points over Acura, and the highest-finishing automaker will win that title.
Jaminet benefited from a fortuitous yellow to jump into the lead and enjoy some clean track on the typically congested Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta circuit.
“The car is going well,” Jaminet told NBC Sports’ Matt Yocum. “The temps are dropping now. I think we still don’t match the 31’s pace. They’ve been really strong all day. We got lucky with the yellow so it was nice to run some clean air. Let’s see, still a very long way to go.”
The sun will set with about three hours remaining in the race, which is when the race tends to change.
“The way you work the tires and traffic is really different in darkness,” Jaminet said. “It’s really a challenge to the drivers and the cars, and hopefully we keep up the performance in the dark and keep moving forward.”
The leaders in other categories of the halfway mark of the Petit Le Mans:
LMP2: No. 22 United Autosports USA ORECA LMP2 07
GTD Pro: No. 48 Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3 EVO
GTD: No. 023 Triarsi Competizione Ferrari 296 GT3
Porsche leads; Manny Fanco update
Three hours into the Petit Le Mans, Mathieu Jaminet was in first place with the No. 6 Porsche Penske Motorsport that leads the Grand Touring Prototype championship standings of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
The No. 63 Automobili Lamborghini Squadra Corse Lamborghini SC63, which is running its last currently scheduled race in IMSA, was in second place, followed by the No. 31 Cadillac V-Series.R
Conquest Racing also provided an update on GTD driver Manny Franco, who was hospitalized after his No. 34 Ferrari 296 GT3 suffered a head-on collision in Turn 4 of the opening lap.
HOUR 3: Overall results l By category
The team said Franco was “doing well and remains in good spirits following this morning’s incident” and undergoing precautionary exams.
Other category leaders under a yellow flag just past 3 p.m. ET for a crash involving a Ferrari GT and the No. 8 Tower Motorsports LMP2.
LMP2: No. 11 TDS Racing ORECA LMP2
GTD Pro: No. 48 Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3 EVO
GTD: No. 023 Triarsi Competizione Ferrari 296 GT3
Update: Manny Franco is doing well and remains in good spirits following this morning’s incident. He is currently at a local hospital for precautionary exams. We wish to thank everyone for their kind messages and support. pic.twitter.com/letJMu7SSY
— Conquest Racing (@ConquestRacing) October 11, 2025
Double duty for Vanthoor
IMSA has clarified the driving lineups of Porsche Penske Motorsports’ 963s, which were ranked first and second in the points entering Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
Because of a “medical emergency” for No. 6 co-driver Julien Andlauer, Laurens Vanthoor will drive in both of PPM’s cars after being originally slated only for the No. 7 with Felipe Nasr and Nick Tandy. Vanthoor will take Andlauer’s spot on the No. 6, too, teaming with Mathieu Jaminet and Matt Campbell.
Though Vanthoor will need to meet minimum drive time in each car for the 10-hour race, he will receive points only in the No. 7.
Larry you’re in next!
— Laurens Vanthoor (@VanthoorLaurens) October 11, 2025
Copy, which car?
We don’t know yet.
Ok. 😂
The No. 6 963 led by 128 points over its No. 7 teammate after qualifying Friday.
After two hours, No. 7 was running sixth in the Petit Le Mans, three spots ahead of the No. 6.
HOUR 2: Overall results l By category
Porsche Motorsport later provided an update on Andlauer, noting he was evaluated by doctors from IMSA and the team.
#IMSA - We greatly appreciate everyone’s concern for @JAndlauer. He’s been evaluated by both the team doctor and @IMSA medical team, and we’re pleased to share he’s doing well.
— Porsche Motorsport (@PorscheRaces) October 11, 2025
The safety and health of our #Porsche drivers is always most important to us. We’re thinking of him… pic.twitter.com/NG87AV9CLQ
Here were the category leaders with 20 percent of the race completed:
GTP: No. 60 6Acura Meyer Shank Racing ARX-06
LMP2: No. 43 Inter Europol Competition ORECA LMP2 07
GTD Pro: No. 77 AO Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R (992)
GTD: No. 21 Af Corse Ferrari 296 GT3
Due to a medical emergency, Julien Andlauer will not compete in today’s race in the No. 6 car. Laurens Vanthoor, who is already entered to drive the No. 7 car, has been added to the driver lineup for the No. 6 car also. Vanthoor will be required to achieve minimum drive time in…
— IMSA (@IMSA) October 11, 2025
Winward Racing wins second consecutive GTD title
Because multiple GTD cars were eliminated in an opening-lap crash, the No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes AMG GT3 clinched its second consecutive championship in the class.
Winward merely needed to avoid a last-place finish in the category and was assured of doing so within the first 45 minutes of the 10-hour race. The team also won last year’s title in a similar fashion.
“Hate to win a championship that way, but it’s familiar territory for us,” Winward Racing co-driver Russell Ward said to NBC Sports’ Chris Wilner. “We pushed so hard this year and really did the heavy lifting at the beginning of the year. And now the pressure is off, and we can go race to try to win. We’re going to be so aggressive, the competition better just get out of the way.”
HOUR 1: Overall results l By category
Through the first hour of the race, pole-sitter Tom Blomqvist continued to lead overall in the No. 60 Meyer Shank Racing Acura ARX-06, followed by Jack Aitken in the No. 31 Cadillac V-Series.R.
Other class leaders: No. 43 Inter Europol Competition ORECA LMP2 07 in LMP2; No. 4 Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports Z06 GT3.R in GTD Pro; No. 021 Triarsi Competizione Ferrari 296 GT3 in GTD.
The traffic jams also aren’t limited to the racing surface of the 12-turn, 2.54-mile road course in Braselton, Georgia. The track has announced a sellout for the 28th edition of the race, which might have its largest crowd in history.
The facility has reached capacity for both parking and fans, so we are no longer selling tickets or parking if you have not previously purchased.
— Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta (@RoadAtlanta) October 11, 2025
Lap 1 crash; driver transported to hospital
The yellow flag flew over the Petit Le Mans for a massive head-on collision in Turn 4 on the first lap of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season finale at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
GTD driver Manny Franco spun in the No. 34 Conquest Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 and turned backward into traffic. The front end of Franco’s car was hit at nearly full speed by the No. 70 Ferrari being driven by Brendan Iribe, who had no time to slow down.
NBC Sports’ Kevin Lee later reported that a Conquest Racing representative said Franco was transported to the hospital for further evaluation. Lee said the team would provide further updates when available.
Following a first lap incident, Manny Franco is being transported to an area hospital for evaluation. We will provide further updates as available.
— Conquest Racing (@ConquestRacing) October 11, 2025
Also collected in the crash were the No. 66 Gradient Racing Ford Mustang GT3 driven by Joey Hand and the No. 13 AWA Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R of Orey Fidani. Track vehicles brought the No. 66, No. 70 and No. 34 back to the garage for repairs.
“Kinda crazy,” Hand told NBC Sports’ Matt Yocum. “I don’t know why people were getting so nuts on the start. I saw a car spinning, started checking up and pretty easily was going to miss it and just got smoked really hard from behind.
“I don’t think we need to be racing like that at the beginning, probably. The biggest shame is for this Gradient team. I love being on this team, and it’s tough to be out in the first 35 seconds of the race. Thankful for this Dark Horse Mustang, but it’s pretty tore up, and I don’t think you’re going to see it back out on the track. I’m all right. I don’t remember the last time I was in a wreck where I had to get out of the car.”
GREEN FLAG FOR MOTUL PETIT LE MANS at MICHELIN RACEWAY ROAD ATLANTA!!!!!
— IMSA (@IMSA) October 11, 2025
🟢: Saturday, October 11 | 12:00PM ET
📺: NBC (12:00PM-3:00PM) | Peacock (Full Race)
🌍: IMSA YouTube Live | IMSA .tv
📻: IMSA Radio@RoadAtlanta | @MotulUSA | @MichelinRaceUSA pic.twitter.com/mGIXNq3XuZ
Pole-sitter Tom Blomqvist was leading in the No. 60 Meyer Shank Racing Acura ARX-06 when the race went back under green at 12:30 p.m. after a 20-minute caution period. But the caution flew again just 2 minutes later for debris on track that was clipped by the No. 31 Cadillac that had started second.
As of 12:40 p.m. ET, 28 of the first 30 minutes of the race had been run under yellow.
Before the initial green flag, there already was an interesting twist in the Grand Touring Prototype category.
NBC Sports reported that endurance driver Julien Andlauer had fallen ill and would be unable to drive the No. 6 Porsche Penske Motorsport 963 that was leading the points standings. It’s expected that Laurens Vanthoor, the enudrance driver for PPM’s No. 7 963, would pull double duty and also drive the No. 6 in place of Andlauer.
Driving the No. 7, Felipe Nasr moved up a spot to third on the opening lap, two positions ahead of the No. 6.
The No. 6 leads the No. 7 by 128 points in the GTP championship.
“To score big points, you have to be hanging around at the end of the race,” No. 7 co-driver Nick Tandy told Yocum. “Of course, things happen. It’s the beauty of Petit Le Mans and Road Atlanta. It’s such a fast track, such a narrow track, and there are so many cars on track for 10 hours around here. Lots can go wrong. You’ve got to have a plan and structure for the race from a driving point of view and a strategy point of view.
“Like most endurance races in IMSA, the car has to be quick in the end, but it’s so easy for things to go out of your control. It’s a real challenge. This is endurance racing and why we love it.”
Prerace notes
The 2025 Petit Le Mans is scheduled to begin at 12:10 p.m. ET at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta with four championships up for grabs in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
In the Grand Touring Prototype category, Porsche Penske Motorsport’s pair of 963s are locked in a tight battle for the title. In its final race with team partner Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, the No. 24 BMW M Team RLL M Hybrid V8 has an outside chance.
The No. 99 AO Racing ORECA LMP2 07 can capture the LMP2 title with a podium finish, leading the No. 22 United Autosports USA by 85 points.
GTD Pro has the tightest title battle with the No. 3 Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports Chevrolet Z06 GT3.R ahead of the No. 81 DragonSpeed Ferrari 296 GT3 by 18 points. The car with the best finish likely will win the championship.
In GTD, the No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes AMG GT3 can clinch merely by avoiding a last-place finish.
The pole-sitters today are the No. 60 Meyer Shank Racing Acura ARX-06 in GTP, the No. 43 Inter Europol Competition ORECA LMP2 07, the No. 48 Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3 EVO in GTD Pro and the No. 47 Cetilar Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 in GTD.
The 10-hour race on the 12-turn, 2.54-mile road course in Braselton, Georgia, will be televised flag to flag on Peacock Premium and also will be on NBC from noon to 3 p.m.
Follow along here for live updates during the race.
