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Michael Christensen (racing driver)

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Michael Christensen
Christensen at the 2024 6 Hours of Fuji
NationalityDenmark Danish
Born (1990-08-28) 28 August 1990 (age 34)
Karlslunde, Denmark
FIA World Endurance Championship career
Debut season2015
Current teamPorsche Penske Motorsport
Racing licence FIA Platinum
Former teamsPorsche Team Manthey, Dempsey-Proton Racing, Porsche GT Team
Starts66
Wins9
Poles11
Fastest laps2
Best finish1st in 2018–19
Previous series
2013
2012
2011
2010–11
2008–09		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.

Early career

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Karting

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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

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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

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

Sportscar career

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Porsche

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Christensen driving at the 2019 24 Hours of Le Mans in a Porsche 992 RSR

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

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For the 2023 World Endurance Championship season, Christensen was named in the lineup for Porsche Penske Motorsport, partnering Dane Cameron and Frédéric Makowiecki.[6] For the 2024 WEC season, Christensen would again drive the Porsche 963 for Penske, alongside Makowiecki and Matt Campbell.[7]

Personal life

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Christensen's hobbies are improving on personal fitness, and training,[8] while his favourite driver is Michael Schumacher,[8] and his favourite circuit is the Nürburgring.

Racing record

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Career summary

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Season Series Team Races Wins Poles FLaps Podiums Points Position
2008 Formula BMW Europe Räikkönen Robertson Racing 15 0 0 1 1 158 6th
Formula BMW Pacific Motaworld Racing 1 0 0 0 1 0 NC†
Formula BMW World Final Josef Kaufmann Racing 1 0 0 0 1 0 2nd
2009 Formula BMW Europe Mücke Motorsport 16 4 5 4 6 233 4th
2010 GP3 Series MW Arden 16 0 0 0 0 0 31st
2011 GP3 Series RSC Mücke Motorsport 16 0 0 1 2 19 11th
ADAC GT Masters Vulcan Racing - Mintgen Motorsport 6 0 0 0 0 0 NC
2012 Porsche Carrera Cup Germany Konrad Motorsport 16 1 0 1 2 148 7th
Porsche Supercup 2 0 0 0 0 0 NC†
2013 Porsche Supercup DAMS 9 1 1 1 3 95 6th
ADAC GT Masters Tonino powered by Herberth Motorsport 2 0 0 0 0 20 23rd
Team Geyer & Weinig EDV-Unternehmensberatung
Schütz Motorsport 		2 0 0 0 0
American Le Mans Series - GT CORE Autosport 1 0 0 0 0 7 29th
Rolex Sports Car Series - GT Konrad Motorsport/Orbit 1 0 0 0 0 16 62nd
Porsche Carrera Cup Germany Team 75 Motorsport GmbH 2 0 0 0 1 0 NC†
24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Pinta Team Manthey 1 0 0 0 0 N/A ?
2014 IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTLM Porsche North America 10 1 1 0 4 303 6th
2015 FIA World Endurance Championship - LMGTE Pro Porsche Team Manthey 7 3 0 1 4 127 3rd
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMGTE Pro 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 5th
IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTLM Porsche North America 2 0 0 0 1 56 17th
24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP-Pro Wochenspiegel Team Manthey 1 0 ? ? 0 N/A DNF
2016 FIA World Endurance Championship - LMGTE Pro Dempsey-Proton Racing 9 0 0 0 0 74 8th
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMGTE Pro 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 8th
IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTLM Porsche North America 3 0 0 0 2 89 13th
24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Manthey Racing 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF
2017 FIA World Endurance Championship - LMGTE Pro Porsche GT Team 9 0 1 0 3 67 11th
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMGTE Pro 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF
IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD Alegra Motorsports 5 1 0 0 2 131 23rd
Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup KÜS TEAM75 Bernhard 1 0 0 0 0 12 22nd
Intercontinental GT Challenge 1 0 0 0 0 12 10th
24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Frikadelli Racing 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 6th
2018 Pirelli World Challenge Alegra Motorsports 19 2 1 1 9 364 3rd
SprintX GT Championship Series 10 1 1 0 6 198 2nd
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMGTE Pro Porsche GT Team 1 1 0 0 1 N/A 1st
24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 KÜS Team75 Bernhard 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 19th
2018–19 FIA World Endurance Championship - LMGTE Pro Porsche GT Team 8 2 1 1 6 155 1st
2019 Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup GPX Racing 1 1 0 0 1 25 10th
Intercontinental GT Challenge 2 1 0 0 2 40 11th
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMGTE Pro Porsche GT Team 1 1 0 0 0 N/A 9th
24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Manthey Racing 1 0 0 0 1 N/A DSQ
2019-20 FIA World Endurance Championship - LMGTE Pro Porsche GT Team 8 2 3 0 6 148 3rd
2020 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup KCMG 1 0 0 0 0 2 33rd
Intercontinental GT Challenge 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMGTE Pro Porsche GT Team 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 6th
2021 FIA World Endurance Championship - LMGTE Pro Porsche GT Team 3 0 2 0 3 88 5th
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMGTE Pro 1 0 0 0 1 N/A 3rd
IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTLM WeatherTech Racing 1 0 0 0 1 348 11th
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup Schnabl Engineering 1 0 0 0 0 4 27th
Intercontinental GT Challenge 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Manthey Racing 1 1 0 0 1 N/A 1st
2022 FIA World Endurance Championship - LMGTE Pro Porsche GT Team 6 1 2 0 4 132 2nd
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMGTE Pro 1 0 0 1 0 N/A 4th
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup GPX Martini Racing 1 0 0 0 0 6 29th
Intercontinental GT Challenge 1 0 0 0 0 * *
24 Hours of Nürburgring -SP9 Manthey Racing 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF
2023 FIA World Endurance Championship - Hypercar Porsche Penske Motorsport 7 0 0 0 0 61 7th
IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTP 2 0 0 0 0 556 18th
24 Hours of Le Mans - Hypercar 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 9th
24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Manthey EMA 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF
2024 FIA World Endurance Championship - Hypercar Porsche Penske Motorsport 8 0 2 0 4 104 5th
IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD Pro AO Racing 4 1 1 0 2 1208 17th

† – As Christensen was a guest driver, he was ineligible for points.

Complete GP3 Series results

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

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 DC Points
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 		31st 0
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 		11th 19
Source:[9]

Complete Porsche Supercup results

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

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 DC Points
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 		6th 95

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

Complete IMSA SportsCar Championship results

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

Year Entrant Class Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Rank Points Ref
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 		6th 303 [10]
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 17th 56 [11]
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 		13th 89 [12]
2017 Alegra Motorsports GTD 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 		23rd 131 [13]
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 		11th 348 [14]
2023 Porsche Penske Motorsport GTP Porsche 963 Porsche 9RD 4.6 L V8 DAY
7 		SEB
5 		LBH LGA WGL MOS ELK IMS PET 18th 556 [15]
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
1 		PET
11 		17th 1208 [16]
Source:[9]

Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results

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

Year Entrant Class Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Rank Points
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 		3rd 127
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 		8th 74
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 		11th 67
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 		1st 155
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 		3rd 148
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 		5th 88
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 		2nd 132
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 		7th 61
2024 Porsche Penske Motorsport Hypercar Porsche 963 Porsche 4.6 L Turbo V8 QAT
3 		IMO
3 		SPA
Ret 		LMS
6 		SÃO
3 		COA
7 		FUJ
Ret 		BHR
2 		5th 104
Sources:[9][17]

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

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Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
2015 Germany Porsche Team Manthey Austria Richard Lietz
Germany Jörg Bergmeister 		Porsche 911 RSR GTE
Pro 		327 30th 5th
2016 Germany Dempsey-Proton Racing Austria Philipp Eng
Austria Richard Lietz 		Porsche 911 RSR GTE
Pro 		329 31st 8th
2017 Germany Porsche GT Team France Kévin Estre
Germany Dirk Werner 		Porsche 911 RSR GTE
Pro 		179 DNF DNF
2018 Germany Porsche GT Team France Kévin Estre
Belgium Laurens Vanthoor 		Porsche 911 RSR GTE
Pro 		344 15th 1st
2019 Germany Porsche GT Team France Kévin Estre
Belgium Laurens Vanthoor 		Porsche 911 RSR GTE
Pro 		337 29th 9th
2020 Germany Porsche GT Team France Kévin Estre
Belgium Laurens Vanthoor 		Porsche 911 RSR-19 GTE
Pro 		331 35th 6th
2021 Germany Porsche GT Team France Kévin Estre
Switzerland Neel Jani 		Porsche 911 RSR-19 GTE
Pro 		344 22nd 3rd
2022 Germany Porsche GT Team France Kévin Estre
Belgium Laurens Vanthoor 		Porsche 911 RSR-19 GTE
Pro 		348 31st 4th
2023 Germany Porsche Penske Motorsport United States Dane Cameron
France Frédéric Makowiecki 		Porsche 963 Hypercar 325 16th 9th
2024 Germany Porsche Penske Motorsport Australia Matt Campbell
France Frédéric Makowiecki 		Porsche 963 Hypercar 311 6th 6th
Sources:[9][18]

References

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  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. ^ "Full World Endurance Championship 2024 entry list". autosport.com. 2024-02-19. Archived from the original on 2024-05-30. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
  8. ^ a b "Formula BMW Europe. 2009 Championship Guide" (PDF). bmw-motorsport.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-09-20. Retrieved 2009-10-11.
  9. ^ a b c d "Michael Christensen Results". Motorsport Stats. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  10. ^ "Michael Christensen – 2014 Tudor United SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  11. ^ "Michael Christensen – 2015 Tudor United SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  12. ^ "Michael Christensen – 2016 Weathertech SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  13. ^ "Michael Christensen – 2017 Weathertech SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  14. ^ "Michael Christensen – 2021 Weathertech SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  15. ^ "Michael Christensen – 2023 Weathertech SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  16. ^ "Michael Christensen – 2024 Weathertech SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  17. ^ "Michael Christensen". FIA World Endurance Championship. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  18. ^ "Michael Christensen". Automobile Club de l'Ouest. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
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Sporting positions
Preceded by World Endurance GT Drivers' Championship
Champion
2018-19
With: Kevin Estre 		Succeeded by
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