March 22, 2024 – Porsche Penske Motorsport and renowned Formula 1 racer Sebastian Vettel gear up for an ambitious test drive of the Porsche 963 hypercar at Motorland Aragón, marking a pivotal moment in the team’s preparation for the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Sebastian Vettel, celebrated for his 53 Formula 1 Grand Prix victories, is set to explore new horizons by piloting the Porsche 963, a hypercar prototype, for the first time. This venture into the realm of endurance racing is part of Porsche Penske Motorsport’s extensive 36-hour endurance test in Spain, aimed at fortifying their campaign for the forthcoming 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Vettel’s journey with the Porsche 963 commenced with a comprehensive simulation training tailored for the Aragón circuit, followed by initial laps at Porsche’s R&D Centre in Weissach, providing him a sneak peek into the hybrid prototype’s capabilities.
This test drive signifies Vettel’s maiden experience in the hypercar prototype category. Porsche Penske Motorsport, alongside private teams, have been showcasing the prowess of the Porsche 963 in the North American IMSA sports car series and the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) since 2023. Achieving notable success, including a victory at the onset of the 2024 season in both championships, the team continues to demonstrate the hybrid race car’s excellence on tracks that utilize biofuel, a sustainable fuel choice embraced by the WEC since March 2022.
Expressing his enthusiasm, Vettel remarked, “Testing the Porsche 963 is an exciting new chapter for me. My fascination with endurance racing sparked this opportunity, and I’m eager to adapt to this new racing environment with the support of the team.”
Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President of Porsche Motorsport, highlighted the mutual benefits of this collaboration, stating, “Sebastian Vettel’s interest in the Porsche 963 is a thrilling development for us. We’re committed to facilitating his transition into endurance racing, anticipating valuable insights from his feedback.”
In preparation for his test drive, Vettel engaged closely with the Porsche Penske Motorsport team, acquainting himself with the Le Mans prototype’s intricate systems and features. His upcoming test at Motorland Aragón alongside Porsche’s esteemed works drivers aims to solidify the team’s strategy for clinching their 20th victory at Le Mans in June.
With the addition of a third Weissach-developed hybrid prototype in the 2024 Le Mans lineup, Porsche Penske Motorsport is poised for triumph. The team’s robust entry, supplemented by customer teams Hertz Team Jota and Proton Competition, underscores their determination to dominate the endurance racing scene, further complemented by the participation of two Porsche 911 GT3 R in the new LMGT3 category.
As Porsche Penske Motorsport and Sebastian Vettel embark on this exhilarating journey, the motorsport world watches eagerly, anticipating the potential reshaping of endurance racing’s future.
