Heinrich back on deck for remaining IMSA rounds

Porsche works driver Laurin Heinrich will be able to run the full 2026 IMSA GTP season after all.

Heinrich, who has split time this season in IMSA between Porsche Penske Motorsport for endurance races and JDC-Miller MotorSports for sprint rounds, was set to miss the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen on June 28th due to a prior engagement with Porsche customer team Schumacher CLRT at the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa. 

But yesterday, the CLRT team announced a driver change for the upcoming Spa 24 Hours, replacing Heinrich with former Porsche factory driver Frédéric Makowiecki. This will now make Heinrich available to drive for JDC-Miller MotorSports at Watkins Glen and compete in all nine rounds featuring the GTP class.

The young German driver, who currently sits second in the GTP Drivers’ Championship with three victories, will partner Tijmen van der Helm and Kaylen Frederick in the Mustang Sampling-sponsored No. 5 Porsche 963.

On his social media channels, Heinrich said, “Wishing Schumacher CLRT all the best at this year’s Spa 24 Hours! Thanks for the support.” 

In exchange, Makowiecki will join Matt Campbell and Ayhancan Güven in the No. 22 CLRT Porsche 911 GT3 R at Spa on the same weekend.

Heinrich was originally slated to run just the three longest rounds of the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup for Porsche Penske Motorsport. After winning the Rolex 24 At Daytona and Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring back to back, Heinrich added a partial campaign at Porsche GTP customer team JDC-Miller beginning at Long Beach.

Since leading JDC-Miller MotorSports to its fairytale win at Laguna Seca, Heinrich has been confirmed as a new full-time driver for Porsche Penske Motorsport beginning in 2027.