Enzinger passes Porsche Motorsport baton to Laudenbach

Thomas Laudenbach has assumed the role of managing Porsche Motorsport.

The accomplished German engineer takes over from Fritz Enzinger, who has led the racing department of the sports car manufacturer to countless successes since 2011.

“We cannot thank Fritz Enzinger enough for his enormously successful work over the past 10 years. He shaped an era at Porsche Motorsport that led us to incredible triumphs and title wins,” commented Michael Steiner, Member of the Executive Board for Research and Development at Porsche AG.

“Motorsport has played a very special role in Porsche’s corporate strategy. We’ve always used the racing platform as a test laboratory for the latest technologies. Thomas Laudenbach has everything it takes to successfully continue on this path. We look forward to the future of motorsport, in which we want to take an active role in shaping. The Mission R concept presented at the IAA MOBILITY showcases an exciting preview of what’s to come.”

Enzinger spearheaded the successful LMP1 programme with the 919 Hybrid. Between 2014 and 2017, he achieved three overall victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans as well as winning a total of six world championship titles in three consecutive years.

Under his direction Porsche also tackled the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, and won titles in the North America IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in the fiercely-contested GTLM class with the 911 RSR.

“Motorsport, like the entire automotive industry, is changing,” said Enzinger. “Thanks to his experience and expertise, Thomas Laudenbach is exactly the right man to lead Porsche Motorsport into this future.”

“I’m thrilled about the trust that’s been placed in me and excited about the tasks ahead,” commented Laudenbach. “We will adapt motorsport to the changed conditions in the automotive industry – from customer racing to factory involvement in the major racing series around the globe. We have our sights firmly set on claiming our 20th Le Mans victory, we want to win world championships – both in endurance racing and in Formula E. It’s also important to continue developing our customer racing. With the Mission R concept study, we are showing how attractive this can look.”

Born in Santiago de Chile, Laudenbach completed his mechanical engineering studies at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. His path initially led him to the DTM and to a service company that developed powertrain components for various European vehicle manufacturers. In the autumn of 1998, he joined Porsche AG. As Head of Powertrain Development, he was involved in racing and sports car projects such as the 918 Spyder, 911 RSR, 911 GT3 R and the 911 GT3 Cup until 2013.

As the leading developer of the 3.4-litre direct-injection V8 engine for the Porsche RS Spyder, Laudenbach also became acquainted with the North American motorsport scene, to which Porsche will now return with a new LMDh hybrid prototype.