Michael Christensen (racing driver)

Last updated
Michael Christensen
Porsche GT Team's Porsche 911 RSR No. 92 Michael Christensen, Kevin Estre and Laurens Vanthoor.jpg
Porsche 911 RSR Christensen Le Mans 2019
Nationality Flag of Denmark.svg Danish
Born (1990-08-28) 28 August 1990 (age 33)
Karlslunde, Denmark
FIA World Endurance Championship career
Debut season 2015
Current team Porsche Penske Motorsport
Racing licence FIA Platinum Driver.png FIA Platinum
Former teams Porsche Team Manthey, Dempsey-Proton Racing, Porsche GT Team
Starts59
Wins9
Poles10
Fastest laps2
Best finish1st in 2018–19
Previous series
2013
2012
2011
201011
200809
Porsche Supercup
Porsche Carrera Cup Germany
ADAC GT Masters
GP3 Series
Formula BMW Europe

Michael Klitgaard Christensen (born 28 August 1990) is a Danish racing driver. He is currently competing in the FIA World Endurance Championship for Porsche in the Hypercar class in the #5 Porsche 963.

Contents

Early career

Karting

Born in Karlslunde, Christensen had a very successful karting career, winning the 2004 Nordic ICA Junior Championship. The following year he gathered both Nordic and European titles in ICA Junior class. For 2006 Christensen graduated to Formula A and he achieved a second place in the Formula A World Championship and was twice champion in the German Kart Championship Winner of the Macau Int. Kart Grand prix Formula A. In 2007 Michael repeated as German Kart Champion and also won the KF1 South Garda Winter Cup.

Formula BMW Europe

Christensen made his open-wheel racing debut in the 2008 Formula BMW Europe season at Barcelona which supported the 2008 Spanish Grand Prix, where he was involved in a potentially serious incident, flipping his car. [1] He finished the season in sixth place and as the top rookie in the rookie standings.

He moved to Mücke Motorsport for the 2009 season. He started the season as the strongest candidate to win the championship, and a victory in the first race of the season was promising. He finished the season in fourth place, although he lost results from five races including three wins, after his team lost an appeal over a breach of technical regulations [2] was rejected by the FIA. [3]

GP3 Series

In 2010, Christensen became the first driver to join MW Arden for the 2010 GP3 Series season. [4]

Sportscar career

Porsche

In 2012, Christensen joined the Porsche young driver program. He resulted 7th in the 2012 Porsche Carrera Cup Germany and 6th in the 2013 Porsche Supercup.

He became a factory driver in 2014, racing in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship joining Patrick Long in the GTLM class, winning 12 Hours of Sebring and North American Endurance Cup. In 2015 he competed in the FIA World Endurance Championship together with Richard Lietz, joining the Manthey Racing team in the GTE-Pro class. Winning the manufactures championship, and finishing 3rd in the drivers championship. In the 2018-2019 FIA World Endurance Championship he in succeeded winning 24 Hours of Le Mans for Porsche. [5]

Hypercar career

For the 2023 World Endurance Championship season, Christensen was named in the lineup for Porsche Penske Motorsport, partnering Dane Eliza and Frédéric Makowiecki. [6]

Personal life

Christensen's hobbies are improving on personal fitness, and training, [7] while his favourite driver is Michael Schumacher, [7] and his favourite circuit is the Nürburgring.

Racing record

Career summary

SeasonSeriesTeamRacesWinsPolesFLapsPodiumsPointsPosition
2008 Formula BMW Europe Räikkönen Robertson Racing 1500111586th
Formula BMW PacificMotaworld Racing100010NC†
Formula BMW World Final Josef Kaufmann Racing 1000102nd
2009 Formula BMW Europe Mücke Motorsport 1645462334th
2010 GP3 Series MW Arden 160000031st
2011 GP3 Series RSC Mücke Motorsport 1600121911th
ADAC GT Masters Vulcan Racing - Mintgen Motorsport600000NC
2012 Porsche Carrera Cup Germany Konrad Motorsport 1610121487th
Porsche Supercup 200000NC†
2013 Porsche Supercup DAMS 91113956th
ADAC GT Masters Tonino powered by Herberth Motorsport200002023rd
Team Geyer & Weinig EDV-Unternehmensberatung
Schütz Motorsport
20000
American Le Mans Series - GT CORE Autosport 10000729th
Rolex Sports Car Series - GT Konrad Motorsport/Orbit 100001662nd
Porsche Carrera Cup Germany Team 75 Motorsport GmbH200010NC†
24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Pinta Team Manthey 10000N/A?
2014 IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTLM Porsche North America 1011043036th
2015 FIA World Endurance Championship - LMGTE Pro Porsche Team Manthey 730141273rd
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMGTE Pro 10000N/A5th
IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTLM Porsche North America 200015617th
24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP-Pro Wochenspiegel Team Manthey 10??0N/ADNF
2016 FIA World Endurance Championship - LMGTE Pro Dempsey-Proton Racing 90000748th
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMGTE Pro 10000N/A8th
IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTLM Porsche North America 300028913th
24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Manthey Racing 10000N/ADNF
2017 FIA World Endurance Championship - LMGTE Pro Porsche GT Team 901036711th
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMGTE Pro 10000N/ADNF
IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD Alegra Motorsports5100213123rd
Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup KÜS TEAM75 Bernhard 100001222nd
Intercontinental GT Challenge 100001210th
24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Frikadelli Racing10000N/A6th
2018 Pirelli World Challenge Alegra Motorsports1921193643rd
SprintX GT Championship Series 1011061982nd
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMGTE Pro Porsche GT Team 11001N/A1st
24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 KÜS Team75 Bernhard 10000N/A19th
2018–19 FIA World Endurance Championship - LMGTE Pro Porsche GT Team 821161551st
2019 Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup GPX Racing110012510th
Intercontinental GT Challenge 210024011th
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMGTE Pro Porsche GT Team 11000N/A9th
24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Manthey Racing 10001N/ADSQ
2019-20 FIA World Endurance Championship - LMGTE Pro Porsche GT Team 823061483rd
2020 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup KCMG 10000233rd
Intercontinental GT Challenge 100000NC
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMGTE Pro Porsche GT Team 10000N/A6th
2021 FIA World Endurance Championship - LMGTE Pro Porsche GT Team 30203885th
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMGTE Pro 10001N/A3rd
IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTLM WeatherTech Racing 1000134811th
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup Schnabl Engineering10000427th
Intercontinental GT Challenge 100000NC
24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Manthey Racing 11001N/A1st
2022 FIA World Endurance Championship - LMGTE Pro Porsche GT Team 612041322nd
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMGTE Pro 10010N/A4th
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup GPX Martini Racing 10000629th
Intercontinental GT Challenge 10000**
24 Hours of Nürburgring -SP9 Manthey Racing 10000N/ADNF
2023 FIA World Endurance Championship - Hypercar Porsche Penske Motorsport 70000617th
IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTP 2000055618th
24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Manthey EMA10000N/ADNF
2024 FIA World Endurance Championship - Hypercar Porsche Penske Motorsport 10101243rd*
IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD Pro AO Racing 201016054th*

 – As Christensen was a guest driver, he was ineligible for points. * Season still in progress.

Complete GP3 Series results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearEntrant12345678910111213141516DCPoints
2010 MW Arden CAT
FEA

Ret
CAT
SPR

16
IST
FEA

13
IST
SPR

11
VAL
FEA

Ret
VAL
SPR

14
SIL
FEA

Ret
SIL
SPR

15
HOC
FEA

Ret
HOC
SPR

10
HUN
FEA

10
HUN
SPR

Ret
SPA
FEA

10
SPA
SPR

23
MNZ
FEA

15
MNZ
SPR

10
31st0
2011 RSC Mücke Motorsport IST
FEA

7
IST
SPR

2
CAT
FEA

18
CAT
SPR

12
VAL
FEA

Ret
VAL
SPR

Ret
SIL
FEA

Ret
SIL
SPR

13
NÜR
FEA

26†
NÜR
SPR

12
HUN
FEA

2
HUN
SPR

13
SPA
FEA

15
SPA
SPR

4
MNZ
FEA

12
MNZ
SPR

11
11th19

Complete Porsche Supercup results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearTeam12345678910DCPoints
2012 Konrad Motorsport BHR BHR MON
20
VAL SIL HOC
8
HUN HUN SPA MNZ NC†0†
2013 DAMS CAT
5
MON
25
SIL
3
NÜR
1
HUN
10
SPA
3
MNZ
8
YMC
10
YMC
7
6th95

As Christensen was a guest driver, he was ineligible to score points.

Complete IMSA SportsCar Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearEntrantClassChassisEngine123456789101112RankPoints
2014 Porsche North America GTLM Porsche 911 RSR Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 DAY
9
SEB
1
LBH
5
LGA
8
WGL
8
MOS
9
IMS
3
ELK
5
VIR
8
COA
3
PET
2
6th303
2015 Porsche North America GTLM Porsche 911 RSR Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 DAY
7
SEB LBH LGA
3
WGL MOS ELK VIR COA PET 17th56
2016 Porsche North America GTLM Porsche 911 RSR Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 DAY
3
SEB
3
LBH LGA WGL MOS LIM ELK VIR COA PET
5
13th89
2017 Alegra MotorsportsGTD Porsche 911 GT3 R Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 DAY
1
SEB
10
LBH
12
COA DET WGL
7
MOS LIM ELK VIR LGA PET
2
23rd131
2021 WeatherTech Racing GTLM Porsche 911 RSR-19 Porsche 4.2 L Flat-6 DAY SEB DET WGL WGL LIM ELK LGA LBH VIR PET
2
11th348
2023 Porsche Penske Motorsport GTP Porsche 963 Porsche 9RD 4.6 L V8 DAY
7
SEB
5
LBH LGA WGL MOS ELK IMS PET 18th556
2024 AO Racing GTD Pro Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) Porsche 4.2 L Flat-6 DAY
2
SEB
9
LGA
DET
WGL
MOS
ELK
VIR
IMS
PET
4th*605*

* Season still in progress.

Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results

YearEntrantClassChassisEngine123456789RankPoints
2015 Porsche Team Manthey LMGTE Pro Porsche 911 RSR Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 SIL
2
SPA LMS
7
NÜR
1
COA
1
FUJ
4
SHA
1
BHR
5
3rd127
2016 Dempsey-Proton Racing LMGTE Pro Porsche 911 RSR Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 SIL
9
SPA
4
LMS
6
NÜR
6
MEX
6
COA
6
FUJ
7
SHA
6
BHR
7
8th74
2017 Porsche GT Team LMGTE Pro Porsche 911 RSR Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 SIL
Ret
SPA
6
LMS
Ret
NÜR
3
MEX
5
COA
2
FUJ
3
SHA
Ret
BHR
Ret
11th67
2018–19 Porsche GT Team LMGTE Pro Porsche 911 RSR Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 SPA
2
LMS
1
SIL
3
FUJ
1
SHA
3
SEB
5
SPA
3
LMS
5
1st155
2019–20 Porsche GT Team LMGTE Pro Porsche 911 RSR-19 Porsche 4.2 L Flat-6 SIL
2
FUJ
2
SHA
2
BHR
7
COA
2
SPA
1
LMS
11
BHR
1
3rd148
2021 Porsche GT Team LMGTE Pro Porsche 911 RSR-19 Porsche 4.2 L Flat-6 SPA ALG
3
MNZ LMS
2
BHR BHR
2
5th88
2022 Porsche GT Team LMGTE Pro Porsche 911 RSR-19 Porsche 4.2 L Flat-6 SEB
1
SPA
2
LMS
4
MNZ
4
FUJ
3
BHR
3
2nd132
2023 Porsche Penske Motorsport Hypercar Porsche 963 Porsche 4.6 L Turbo V8 SEB
5
ALG
10
SPA
4
LMS
7
MNZ
4
FUJ
12
BHR
7
7th61
2024 Porsche Penske Motorsport Hypercar Porsche 963 Porsche 4.6 L Turbo V8 QAT
3
IMO
SPA
LMS
SAP
COA
FUJ
BHR
3rd*24*

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

YearTeamCo-DriversCarClassLapsPos.Class
Pos.
2015 Flag of Germany.svg Porsche Team Manthey Flag of Austria.svg Richard Lietz
Flag of Germany.svg Jörg Bergmeister
Porsche 911 RSR GTE
Pro
32730th5th
2016 Flag of Germany.svg Dempsey-Proton Racing Flag of Austria.svg Philipp Eng
Flag of Austria.svg Richard Lietz
Porsche 911 RSR GTE
Pro
32931st8th
2017 Flag of Germany.svg Porsche GT Team Flag of France.svg Kévin Estre
Flag of Germany.svg Dirk Werner
Porsche 911 RSR GTE
Pro
179DNFDNF
2018 Flag of Germany.svg Porsche GT Team Flag of France.svg Kévin Estre
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Laurens Vanthoor
Porsche 911 RSR GTE
Pro
34415th1st
2019 Flag of Germany.svg Porsche GT Team Flag of France.svg Kévin Estre
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Laurens Vanthoor
Porsche 911 RSR GTE
Pro
33729th9th
2020 Flag of Germany.svg Porsche GT Team Flag of France.svg Kévin Estre
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Laurens Vanthoor
Porsche 911 RSR-19 GTE
Pro
33135th6th
2021 Flag of Germany.svg Porsche GT Team Flag of France.svg Kévin Estre
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Neel Jani
Porsche 911 RSR-19 GTE
Pro
34422nd3rd
2022 Flag of Germany.svg Porsche GT Team Flag of France.svg Kévin Estre
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Laurens Vanthoor
Porsche 911 RSR-19 GTE
Pro
34831st4th
2023 Flag of Germany.svg Porsche Penske Motorsport Flag of the United States.svg Dane Eliza
Flag of France.svg Frédéric Makowiecki
Porsche 963 Hypercar32516th9th

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References

  1. Video from the accident [ permanent dead link ]
  2. "Mücke Motorsport suspended from Formula BMW Europe races". bmw-motorsport.com. Formula BMW. 2009-08-20. Archived from the original on 2012-05-30. Retrieved 2009-09-02.
  3. "FIA International Court of Appeal ruling confirms judicial decisions". bmw-motorsport.com. Formula BMW. 2009-11-17. Archived from the original on 2012-05-30. Retrieved 2009-11-17.
  4. Beer, Matt (2010-01-08). "MW Arden signs first GP3 driver". autosport.com. Haymarket Publications . Retrieved 2010-01-08.
  5. Dagys, John (2013-11-27). "Michael Christensen Named Porsche Factory Driver". sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 2013-12-14.
  6. James, Richard (17 December 2022). "Porsche clarifies driver lineups for IMSA and WEC". racer.com. Racer Media & Marketing Inc. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  7. 1 2 "Formula BMW Europe. 2009 Championship Guide" (PDF). bmw-motorsport.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-09-20. Retrieved 2009-10-11.
Sporting positions
Preceded by World Endurance GT Drivers' Championship
Champion

2018-19
With: Kevin Estre
Succeeded by