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Lars Kern

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Lars Kern
NationalityGermany German
Born (1987-11-18) 18 November 1987 (age 37)
Weissach, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
IMSA SportsCar Championship career
Debut season2019
Current teamAWA
Racing licence FIA Silver
Car number13
Starts25
Wins2
Podiums6
Poles0
Fastest laps0
Best finish11th in 2023

Lars Kern (born 18 November 1987) is a German racing driver. He currently competes in the 2025 IMSA SportsCar Championship driving the No. 13 AWA Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R.[1] Kern is the GTD class winner of the 2025 24 Hours of Daytona with AWA and the winner of the 2016 24 Hours of Nürburgring.[2]

He is also a Porsche development driver and holds multiple lap records in Porsche production cars at the Nürburgring.[3]

Career

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IMSA SportsCar Championship

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2019

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In 2019, Kern signed with Pfaff Motorsports to compete in the Michelin Endurance Cup rounds of the 2019 IMSA SportsCar Championship.[4] He would drive alongside Scott Hargrove and Zacharie Robichon for the season. Kern would score his best result in Petit Le Mans finishing third.

2020

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Kern returned to the championship for the 2020 season, resigning with Pfaff Motorsports to drive their No. 9 Porsche 911 GT3 R alongside Dennis Olsen and Zacharie Robichon.[5] In the first race of the season at Daytona, Kern qualified on pole in the GTD class, however he and his co-drivers were not able to translate this in the race, finishing 13th in class.[6][7] Originally, Kern was signed to drive in the Michelin Endurance Cup rounds, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he only competed in two races the entire season, the second of which being Petit Le Mans. In Petit Le Mans, Kern finished fifth in the race.

2021

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Following a shortened 2020 season, Kern returned for the 2021 IMSA SportsCar Championship to drive Pfaff Motorsports' No. 9 Porsche 911 GT3 R alongside Zacharie Robichon and Laurens Vanthoor.[8] Kern would win his first race in the championship in the second race at the 12 Hours of Sebring.[9] He would also finish on the podium in second at Petit Le Mans.

2022

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Kern's AWA No. 13 Duqueine M30 - D08 at the 2022 Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen

For the 2022 season, Kern switched teams to newcomer AWA, joining Matt Bell, Orey Fidani, and Kuno Wittmer to drive the team's No. 13 Duqueine M30 - D08 in LMP3 for the Michelin Endurance Cup rounds of the season.[10] In the opening race of the season, he would finish in fifth for the team.[11] Kern would have a decent season, finishing a best of fourth at Sebring.

2023

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Kern resigned with AWA for the 2023 IMSA SportsCar Championship to drive in the Michelin Endurance Cup rounds of the season.[12] He would be paired up with Matt Bell and Orey Fidani once again. In the second race of the season at Sebring, the trio would get their first podium of the season finishing second. They would get another podium at Petit Le Mans, finishing in second.[13]

2024

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For 2024, Kern resigned with AWA for the 2024 season, however, he and the team would switch to the GTD class where Kern would drive the team's brand new Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R. Bell and Fidani would once again join the team alongside Kern.[14] They would have a difficult season, with no podiums and a best result of sixth. However, due to Fidani consistency throughout the season, he and the team were awarded with the Bob Akin Award for Bronze rated drivers.[15] This gave the team, Fidani, Bell, and Kern an automatic invite to the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans.

2025

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Kern returned to the championship for the 2025 season once again with AWA.[16] Matt Bell and Orey Fidani would return as Kern's teammates aboard the No. 13 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R, Marvin Kirchhöfer joining them for the 24 Hours of Daytona. The opening race of the season at Daytona did not start off strongly, with Fidani only qualifying 16th in class for the race. Although during the race, the team showed that they had pace and made their way up the field. Towards the closing hours of the race, the team sat in third behind the No. 27 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin and the No. 120 Wright Motorsports Porsche who were battling for the lead. Bell, who was in the car at this stage, overtook the No. 120 and battled with the No. 27 to take the lead of the race. With 20 minutes to go, Bell overtook the No. 27 for the race lead and kept it. Kern, Bell, Kirchhöfer, and Fidani crossed the finish in first, winning the 2025 24 Hours of Daytona.[17][18][19]

24 Hours of Le Mans

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2025

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Kern in the No. 13 AWA Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R at the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans

With AWA winning the Bob Akin Award at the 2024 IMSA SportsCar Championship, the team and Kern received an automatic invite to the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans.[20] Matt Bell and Orey Fidani would rejoin the team and Kern for Le Mans. They would finish a respectable 10th in the LMGT3 class in their debut.

Racing record

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Career summary

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Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position
2010 ADAC GT Masters Jola Competition 2 0 0 0 0 0 62nd
2011 Belcar Endurance Championship Speedlover 6 0 0 0 0 45 11th
2016 ADAC 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP-X Manthey Racing 1 1 1 1st
2017 Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Porsche Centre Melbourne 8 0 0 1 1 191.5 11th
VLN Langstrecken Serie - SP9 Manthey Racing 4 0 0 0 1 0 NC
ADAC 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP-X 1 0 1 2nd
VLN Nürburgring Series - SPX 4 2 1 0 2 0 NC
Porsche Invitational Race - Sepang Robert Gattereder 1 0 0 0 0 0 13th
2018 24H Series - Championship of the Continents - A6 Manthey Racing 1 0 0 0 1 0 NC
VLN Langstrecken Serie - SP9 Pro 5 0 0 0 0 10.73 27th
ADAC 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP-X 1 0 0 0 0 0 17th
Belgian Endurance Belgium Racing 1 0 0 0 1 199 2nd
VLN Endurance Manthey Racing, KÜS Team75 Bernhard 5 0 0 0 0 14.4 378th
2019 IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD Pfaff Motorsports 4 0 0 0 1 91 29th
ADAC GT4 Germany Team Allied-Racing 8 0 1 0 3 88 8th
24 Hours of the Nürburgring - SP9 Pro Manthey Racing 1 0 0 0 0 0 5th
VLN Langstrecken Serie - SP9 Pro 2 0 0 0 0 5.5 62nd
Intercontinental GT Challenge Lechner Racing 1 0 0 0 0 ? ?
2020 IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD Pfaff Motorsports 2 0 1 0 0 44 35th
VLN Langstrecken Serie - SP9 Pro Manthey Racing 4 0 0 0 0 16.04 31st
24 Hours of the Nürburgring - SP9 Frikadelli Racing Team 1 0 0 0 0 0 7th
2021 IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD Pfaff Motorsports 4 1 0 0 2 1215 20th
VLN Langstrecken Series - SP9 Pro/Am Manthey Racing 3 1 0 0 1 0 NC
Falken Motorsports 1 0 0 0 0
Intercontinental GT Challenge Allied Racing 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
GT World Challenge Europe - Silver Cup Team Allied Racing 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
2022 IMSA SportsCar Championship - LMP3 AWA 4 0 0 0 0 812 9th
VLN Langstrecken Series - SP9 Pro Falken Motorsports 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
Michelin Pilot Challenge Absolute Racing 1 0 0 0 0 50 71st
Le Mans Cup - LMP3 Haegeli by T2 Racing 1 0 0 0 0 1 36th
24 Hours of the Nürburgring - SP9 Pro/Am Huber Motorsport 1 0 1 0 3rd
GT4 America Series Absolute Racing 2 0 0 0 0 0 NC
2023 IMSA SportsCar Championship - LMP3 AWA 4 0 0 0 2 952 11th
VLN Langstrecken Series - SP9 Pro Huber Motorsport 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
24 Hours of the Nürburgring - SP9 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
2024 IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD AWA 5 0 0 1 0 1062 5th
Le Mans Cup Kessel Racing 2 0 0 0 0 0 NC
2025 IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD AWA 2 1 0 1 1 590* 4th*

* Season still in progress.

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 Pos. Pts
2019 Pfaff Motorsports GTD Porsche 911 GT3 R Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 DAY
16
SEB
10
MOH
BEL
WGL
6
MOS
LIM
ELK
VIR
LGA
ATL
3
29th 91
2020 Pfaff Motorsports GTD Porsche 911 GT3 R Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 DAY
1

13
DAY
2

SEB
1

ELK
VIR
ATL
1

MOH
CLT
ATL
2

5
LGA
SEB
2

35th 44
2021 Pfaff Motorsports GTD Porsche 911 GT3 R Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 DAY
12
SEB
1
MOH
BEL
WGL
1

WGL
2

7
LIM
ELK
LGA
5
LBH
VIR
ATL
2
20th 1215
2022 AWA LMP3 Duqueine M30 - D-08 Nissan VK56 V8 5.6L DAY
5
SEB
4
MOH
WGL
9
MOS
ELK
ATL
7
19th 812
2023 AWA LMP3 Duqueine M30 - D-08 Nissan VK56 V8 5.6L DAY
4
SEB
2
WGL
5
MOS
ELK
IMS
ATL
2
11th 952
2024 AWA GTD Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R Chevrolet LT6 5.5 L V8 DAY
21
SEB
9
LBH
LGA
WGL
7
MOS
ELK
VIR
IMS
6
ATL
11
35th 1062
2025 AWA GTD Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R Chevrolet LT6 5.5 L V8 DAY
1
SEB
10
LBH LGA WGL MOS ELK VIR IMS ATL 4th* 590*

* Season still in progress.

24 Hours of Daytona results

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Year Class No Team Car Co-drivers Laps Position Class Pos.
2019 GTD 9 Canada Pfaff Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R Canada Scott Hargrove
Norway Dennis Olsen
Canada Zacharie Robichon
470 37 DNF 16 DNF
2020 GTD 9 Canada Pfaff Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R Norway Dennis Olsen
Canada Zacharie Robichon
France Patrick Pilet
716 32 13
2021 GTD 9 Canada Pfaff Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R Norway Matt Campbell
Canada Zacharie Robichon
Belgium Laurens Vanthoor
702 36 12
2022 LMP3 13 Canada AWA Duqueine M30 - D-08 United Kingdom Matt Bell
Canada Orey Fidani
Canada Kuno Wittmer
695 32 5
2023 LMP3 13 Canada AWA Duqueine M30 - D-08 United Kingdom Matt Bell
Canada Orey Fidani
Germany Moritz Kranz
717 35 4
2024 GTD 13 Canada AWA Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R United Kingdom Matt Bell
Canada Orey Fidani
United Kingdom Alex Lynn
308 51 DNF 21 DNF
2025 GTD 13 Canada AWA Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R United Kingdom Matt Bell
Canada Orey Fidani
Germany Marvin Kirchhöfer
719 21 1

24 Hours of Nürburgring results

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Year Class No Team Car Co-drivers Laps Position Class Pos.
2016 SP-X 170 Germany Manthey Racing Porsche Cayman GT4 Germany Christoph Breuer
Germany Christian Gebhardt
121 23 1
2017 SP-X 150 Germany Manthey Racing Porsche Cayman 981 GT4 CS Germany Christoph Breuer
Germany Moritz Oberheim
Germany Marc Hennerici
144 27 2
2018 SP9 12 Germany Manthey Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R Germany Christoph Breuer
Germany Moritz Oberheim
Germany Marc Hennerici
129 18 17
2019 SP9 12 Germany Manthey Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R (17) Italy Matteo Cairoli
Germany Otto Klohs
Norway Dennis Olsen
155 4 4
2020 SP9 Pro 31 Germany Frikadelli Racing Team Porsche 911 GT3 R Germany Lance David Arnold
France Mathieu Jaminet
Belgium Maxime Martin
85 7 7
2022 SP9 Pro/Am 25 Germany Huber Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3 R Germany Nico Menzel
Germany Klaus Rader
Germany Joachim Thyssen
156 11 3
2023 SP9 Pro 25 Germany Huber Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3 R France Romain Dumas
Germany Dennis Fetzer
France Côme Ledogar
105 DNF DNF

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

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Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
2025 Canada AWA Racing United Kingdom Matt Bell
Canada Orey Fidani
Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R LMGT3 338 42nd 10th

References

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  1. ^ "Lars Kern". IMSA. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
  2. ^ Robinson, Mark (2025-02-19). "Watches and Replacement Cars: AWA's Rolex 24 Corvette Success Story". IMSA. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
  3. ^ "Porsche test driver Lars Kern on the perfect Nurburgring lap". www.porsche.com. 2021-06-24. Retrieved 2025-06-06.
  4. ^ Dagys, John (2018-12-13). "Pfaff Porsche Expands to Full-Season Effort – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  5. ^ Dagys, John (2019-12-10). "Olsen Joins Pfaff for Full Season Campaign – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  6. ^ "2020 Rolex 24 At Daytona Qualifying". IMSA. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  7. ^ "IMSA 2020 Daytona 24 Results | IMSA Race Results". www.motorsport.com. Archived from the original on 2025-02-21. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  8. ^ "Vanthoor joins Pfaff Porsche line-up | RACER". racer.com. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  9. ^ "Final 2021 Twelve Hours of Sebring results, IMSA points, statistics package". NBC Sports. 2021-03-20. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  10. ^ Lloyd, Daniel (2021-12-14). "Pilot Challenge Outfit AWA Announces LMP3 Program – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  11. ^ awateam. "TOP-FIVE FINISH FOR AWA AT THE ROLEX 24 AT DAYTONA – Professional Race Team". Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  12. ^ Dagys, John (2022-12-21). "AWA Confirms Lineup for Two-Car LMP3 Effort for Daytona – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  13. ^ awateam. "AWA Clinch Second Place Finish at Petit Le Mans in Final Round of the Season – Professional Race Team". Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  14. ^ Dagys, John (2023-11-13). "AWA Confirms Three More Drivers for Corvette GTD Lineup – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  15. ^ awateam. "IMSA GTD Bronze Cup/Akin Award Winners! – Professional Race Team". Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  16. ^ O’Connell, R. J. (2024-12-04). "Kirchhöfer Completes AWA Rolex 24 Lineup". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  17. ^ awateam. "AWA Wins Rolex 24 hours of Daytona GTD – Professional Race Team". Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  18. ^ Staff, Speedway Digest (2025-01-26). "Corvette Racing at Daytona: Awa Corvette Wins the Rolex! - Speedway Digest - Home for NASCAR News". Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  19. ^ "Daytona drew AWA Corvette's lucky No. 13 | RACER". racer.com. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  20. ^ Euwema, Davey (2025-05-21). "AWA Reveals Special Livery for Le Mans Debut – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
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