Sebastian Vettel, the four-time Formula 1 World Champion, has embarked on his journey with Porsche Penske Motorsport by test driving a Porsche 963 Hypercar. This test took place at Motorland Aragon in Spain, in preparation for an official test.
There were previous discussions about Vettel potentially joining Jota’s Porsche Hypercar program in 2024. However, he decided against committing to a full season of the FIA World Endurance Championship. Despite this, there is a possibility of Vettel making a one-time appearance at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans event. Porsche Penske Motorsport will be running a third Le Mans-only factory prototype, known as the #4 963.
Currently, the only confirmed driver for the #4 car is Mathieu Jaminet. Vettel’s debut behind the wheel of the 963 could indicate his potential participation in the renowned race. Vettel expressed his excitement about testing the Porsche 963, mentioning that he had already gained some familiarity with the car during a rollout in Weissach. He also shared his curiosity for endurance events, which motivated him to give it a try.
Vettel acknowledged that the long run in Aragon will require some adjustment and getting used to. However, he praised the team for being open and supportive, making it a new and exciting experience for him. As for the future, Vettel stated that there are currently no further plans in this regard.
Sebastian Vettel recently met with the operations crew at Porsche Penske Motorsport in Mannheim, Germany on March 14th. The following day, he participated in simulator sessions. On March 22nd, Vettel had the opportunity to test the 963 on track at Porsche’s Weissach R&D facility. His next step in his Hypercar journey will be taking part in the 36-hour endurance test at Aragon next week, alongside works drivers Matt Campbell, Michael Christensen, Frédéric Makowiecki, Kévin Estre, André Lotterer, and Laurens Vanthoor.
Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President of Porsche Motorsport, expressed his delight at Vettel’s interest in the Porsche 963. The company was more than happy to support his request and provide him with extensive preparation and ample time to drive their hybrid prototype. They believe that Vettel’s valuable feedback will contribute greatly to their learning process. The upcoming 36-hour long run with Porsche Penske Motorsport and their works drivers at Motorland Aragón will provide the perfect environment for this collaboration.
The combination of Vettel and Porsche at Le Mans would be truly iconic. Vettel’s legendary status in the world of F1 is well-known, as is Porsche’s historic success at Le Mans. With a record 19 overall victories at the 24-Hour Enduro, Porsche is poised to challenge for win number 20. Vanthoor, Estre, and Lotterer emerged victorious in the #6 car during the FIA WEC season-opener in Qatar, following their success in the 2024 IMSA Daytona 24 Hours with drivers Dane Cameron, Campbell, Josef Newgarden, and Felipe Nasr.