Jaminet Expecting to Be “At the Front” in SSR Herberth Porsche

Photo: Gruppe C Photography/Porsche

Mathieu Jaminet said he has high expectations for this weekend’s CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa as part of the all-factory Porsche driver-crewed lineup for SSR Herberth, an effort that he played a part in putting together.

Jaminet is racing alongside longtime co-driver Matt Campbell and fellow Frenchman Fred Makowiecki in the No. 92 Porsche 911 GT3 R, as one of six Pro class Porsches entered for the joint Intercontinental GT Challenge and Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Endurance Cup enduro.

While currently campaigning Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2s in DTM, the German SSR operation has joined forces with the Robert and Alfred Renauer-led Herberth squad this weekend, rekindling a previous partnership with Porsche.

“I know both teams pretty well, having raced with them in GT Masters some years ago,” Jaminet told Sportscar365. “Basically most of the team is from SSR but they needed some support because they now race Lambos full-time in DTM.

“It’s their first outing with the new Porsche. They’re from Munich, or the Bavarian region, a little bit like the Herberth brothers.

“They got in touch and got some support there to prepare the car, get to know all of the tricks preparing for this event because the [Herberth] brothers have been here in the SRO championship for many years.

“This is also [SSR’s] first race in SRO, so to get to know the rules and how to prepare everything to the pit stop, refueling, and so on, this is all new for the team.

“They needed at least someone to be around and helping them. That’s how it came up.”

Jaminet revealed that he and Alfred Renauer “had the idea” to put together a program around the blue-ribboned GT3 enduro event with the two teams after his IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship commitments with Porsche Penske Motorsport got in the way of a potential Nürburgring 24 bid this year.

“Actually, we were laughing about it yesterday,” he said. “The idea came up basically from Alfred and myself. He asked me [to do] Nürburgring this year and I said I couldn’t do it but why not do Spa together? He said, ‘Let me think about it.’

“I know Stefan [Schlund] from SSR pretty well and he already asked me in the past that he always wanted to do Spa one day.

“I texted him and texted Alfred and they were in contact and said it would be good to make a car, and a month later, ‘It’s a good idea’ and two months later it was confirmed.”

When it came to determining Jaminet’s co-drivers, the Frenchman said it was an easy decision.

“It was obvious my first choice for a teammate would be Matt and he was keen on doing it,” he said. “Then from Porsche and the team came up to have Fred.

“It makes sense because Matt races full-time with Fred in WEC. I know Fred also pretty well, as another French guy.

“We have a really good lineup, honestly.

“We enjoyed the test and so far this week, you can see the atmosphere. The team is prepared and well-sorted with no pressure. It’s pretty relaxed.

“It’s cool and different and nice to be back here.”

This weekend’s race will mark Jaminet’s first race outing in the Type-992 Porsche since last year’s Nürburgring 24, where he was also paired with Campbell, who had been long-time co-drivers in GT3 competition prior to the start of the Porsche Penske LMDh program in 2023.

“This is clear that we want to have a good one and be fast and be at the front,” Jaminet said.

“At the end of the day you never really know where you are until the race starts, especially here.

“On paper, we have everything we need to be competitive. So it’s clear that we’re aiming to race at the front.

“But there’s no extra pressure or anything. I think everybody is trying to enjoy and have fun on this one. I think that’s the mentality of the team and then see what comes out of it.”

Source: Sports Car 365