Michael Christensen

Michael Christensen is a Danish racing driver who is most known as a Porsche driver with factory team or private teams in different GT competitions.

His connection with Porsche started in 2011 when he joined Porsche Junior program. Since then, he contested with Porsche in the FIA World Endurance Championship and IMSA SportsCar Championship. His most recent success is a victory in GT class at 2018 Le Mans 24 Hours and FIA WEC championship title for GT drivers in 2019.

Earlier in a career, Christensen competed in several single-seater series, achieving a most notable result at 2008 Formula BMW World Final, when he finished in the second place.

Michael Christensen

Second place at 2008 Formula BMW World Final

Formula BMW was Michael's first championship with cars after he spent five seasons in karting competitions. In his first Formula BMW Europe season, Christensen was driving for Räikkönen Robertson Racing, scoring one podium to finish as the best rookie and sixth in the overall standings.

He finished second at 2008 Formula BMW World Final in Mexico City, behind Alexander Rossi. He joined Mücke Motorsport for the 2009 Formula BMW Europe season, finishing fourth in the points with four wins on his account.

Michael Christensen as Formula BMW driver

Two seasons in the GP3 Series

In 2010, Christensen progressed to the GP3 Series, driving for MW Arden team. Without wins or podiums, not scoring points, he finished unclassified in the final standings.

For the 2011 GP3 Series season, Christensen rejoined Mücke Motorsport and improved his results. He was on a podium two times, at Istanbul and Hungaroring, finishing eleventh in the final classification.

GT racing debut in ADAC GT Masters

Christensen made his GT racing debut in September 2011, joining Vulkan Racing/Mintgen Motorsport in three rounds of the ADAC GT Masters. He was driving a Dodge Viper Competition Coupe.

At Lausitzring, he was sharing a car with Christian Bebion. In two races, at Assen and Hockenheimring, his co-driver was Heiko Hammel.

Michael Christensen started to race with Porsche in 2012

Michael entered Porsche Junior program in 2011

In 2011, Christensen also joined Porsche Junior program for young drivers, starting to race with Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars in 2012. His main competition in 2012 was the Porsche Carrera Cup Germany. He won the season-closing race at Hockenheimring to finish seventh in the final standings. He also made a debut in the Porsche Supercup, driving for Konrad Motorsport at Monaco and Hockenheim.

In 2013, Porsche Supercup was his main competition. Driving the #21 car for DAMS, he won at Nürburgring to finish sixth in the final standings. He also recorded few appearances in the Porsche Carrera Cup Germany and ADAC GT Masters.

Debuting at 24h Nürburgring, 24h Daytona and Petit Le Mans

In 2013, Christensen debuted in endurance races. In January, he traveled to America to drive the #32 Porsche 997 GT3 Cup for Orbit/Konrad Motorsport at Daytona 24 Hours. His co-drivers were Nick Tandy and Christian Engelhart. They retired after an accident.

He also made a debut at 24 hours of Nürburgring, driving for Manthey Racing. He shared a car with Robert Renauer, Klaus Bachler and Michael Illbruck. They stopped after 75 laps. In October, Christensen participated in one more endurance race, the Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta, driving Porsche for CORE Autosport.

2014 Sebring 12 Hours winners

GT class victory at 2014 Sebring 12 Hours

In 2014, Christensen returned to Daytona as a driver of Porsche North America, the factory team which contested in the IMSA United SportsCar Championship. He spent a season sharing the #912 Porsche 911 RSR with Patrick Long. Their endurance co-driver was Jorg Bergmeister.

They retired at Daytona 24h and then won GTLM class at Sebring 12 Hours. Christensen added three more podiums to his account, finishing sixth in the GTLM class standings.

Michael Christensen drives Porsches in different GT championships

Third place in the 2015 FIA World Endurance Championship

In 2015, Christensen was driving for Porsche in the FIA World Endurance Championship. He was a part of factory-backed Manthey Racing team. For most of the season, he was sharing the #91 Porsche 911 RSR with Richard Lietz.

Scoring three wins (Nürburgring, Austin, Shanghai) in the GTE Pro class, Christensen finished third in the final FIA WEC classification for GT drivers. In his debut at 24 hours of Le Mans, he was sharing a car with Lietz and Jörg Bergmeister. They finished fifth in the GTE Pro class.

During his FIA WEC commitments with Porsche in 2015, he participated in just two races in North America, at Daytona and Laguna Seca.

2016 FIA WEC season with Dempsey-Proton Racing

For the 2016 FIA WEC season, Christensen moved to Dempsey-Proton Racing to drive the #77 Porsche 911 RSR. His co-driver was Richard Lietz, with Philipp Eng joining them at 24h Le Mans. Fourth place at 6 hours of Spa was their best result and they ended a season 8th in the GTE Pro classification. At Le Mans, a trio in the #77 car finished 8th in the class.

Christensen's American program in 2016 consisted of three races with Porsche North America in the GTLM class. He was 3rd at Daytona, 3rd at Sebring and 5th at Petit Le Mans.

Michael (second right) among 2017 Daytona 24h GTD class winners

GTD class victory at 2017 Daytona 24h

Christensen started 2017 scoring a class victory at Daytona 24 Hours. He was driving the #28 Porsche 911 GT3 R for Alegra Motorsports, sharing a car with Daniel Morad, Jesse Lazare, Michael de Quesada and Carlos de Quesada. They finished 18th overall and won the GTD class. Later in the season, he joined the team in few more races.

Christensen's main job in 2017 was to drive the #92 Porsche 911 RSR for Porsche GT Team in the FIA World Endurance Championship. His full-time teammate is Kevin Estre. At Le Mans, they were joined by Dirk Werner, retiring after 179 laps.

GT class winners at 2018 Le Mans 24: Michael Christensen, Laurens Vanthoor, Kevin Estre

GT class Le Mans victory in 2018, FIA WEC title in 2019

In 2018, Christensen and Estre stayed together in the #92 Porsche RSR in the FIA World Endurance Championship, competing in GTE Pro class. After finishing second in the season-opening race at Spa, they won 24 Hours of Le Mans, together with Laurens Vanthoor as the third driver.

Later in the season, they won one more race at Fuji Speedway. The 2018-2019 FIA WEC super season ended with another Le Mans race in June 2019, where they finished 9th in GT class. With two wins and six podiums in eight races, Christensen and Estre took the FIA WEC GT title.

Michael Christensen and Kevin Estre - 2019 FIA WEC GT champions

Photos: Porsche, michaelchristensen.com, Jay Allen/motorsport.com,