Pfaff Shoots for Three-Peat with Pilet, Bachler and Vanthoor at the Wheel

Pfaff Motorsports will compete for a third consecutive IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with its third driver lineup in as many years. The team announced Monday that Patrick Pilet and Klaus Bachler will drive the full 2023 season in the No. 9 “Plaid” Porsche GT3 R in the GTD PRO class, with Laurens Vanthoor joining them for the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup events.

Pfaff is the reigning GTD PRO team champion with Matt Campbell and Mathieu Jaminet taking the drivers’ title. Campbell and Jaminet have been named as drivers for the Porsche 963 LMDh program in 2023. Pfaff also claimed the GT Daytona (GTD) title in 2021 behind co-drivers Vanthoor and Zacharie Robichon.

In Pilet, Pfaff adds another WeatherTech Championship season champion from the 2015 GT Le Mans (GTLM) season with the Porsche GT Team. The 41-year-old Frenchman has collected a total of 13 series victories but hasn’t driven for a full season since 2019. Pilet has driven for Pfaff previously, joining the team’s lineup for the 2020 Rolex 24 At Daytona.

“I drove in the U.S. for many, many years and I had the chance to win the championship in GTLM and finish second and third in other places,” Pilet said. “I really feel like home there; it’s a great championship. I love every track and the way you race there. I’m really looking forward to that, especially with Pfaff.”

Bachler’s WeatherTech Championship experience is limited to six appearances in the Rolex 24, all since 2013 and all driving Porsches. He drove in several other series around the globe this year.

“Competing the whole season in IMSA for the first time makes me very proud and happy,” the 31-year-old Austrian said. “I always wanted to tick that box. I am really looking forward to experiencing and getting to know these iconic racetracks with a strong field of drivers and epic battles. Contesting my first season in IMSA with Pfaff Motorsports really honors me. Being part of the Pfaff Motorsports family means being part of an extremely professional and successful team.”

Endurance driver Vanthoor is a two-time champion, in the GTLM class in 2019 before adding the GTD title with Pfaff in 2021. The 31-year-old Belgian has nine career race wins.

“I’m extremely looking forward to working together with everyone at Pfaff again,” Vanthoor said. “First of all, we had a successful relationship with two victories and the championship in 2021, but mainly as well, we have a very good private relationship where I had and still have a good understanding with everybody on the team. I’m very much looking forward to being back with them.”

The No. 9 Porsche is scheduled to participate in a two-day test at Daytona International Speedway on Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec. 6-7. The 2023 season kicks off with Roar Before the Rolex 24 testing from Jan. 20-22. The 61st Rolex 24 At Daytona is the first race of the year on Jan. 28-29.