Four-time Formula 1 champion Sebastian Vettel’s highly anticipated test in the Porsche Hypercar is not just a publicity stunt. Porsche’s decision to have Vettel, who gained immense popularity during his time at Ferrari and Aston Martin after winning four F1 titles with Red Bull, drive one of their Porsche 963s is a clear PR win. However, a simple demonstration run could have achieved that. Instead, Vettel’s extensive mileage at the Motorland Aragon circuit in Spain was a serious undertaking for both Porsche’s pre-Le Mans 24 Hours test program and Vettel himself.
Porsche had already announced that Vettel had undergone rigorous simulator training and completed preparation laps at their test track in Weissach, which is only 1.57 miles long, much shorter than Aragon. The mileage Vettel accumulated at Weissach would have paled in comparison to his running at Aragon, where he completed 118 laps. Porsche described his running as “two double stints,” indicating that he completed two separate runs with a full fuel tank and a full refueling.
This test was part of a continuous 36-hour test aimed at replicating endurance racing conditions, and Porsche reported that Vettel encountered no problems during his stint. Vettel himself expressed his satisfaction, stating that he already had a good feeling after seat adjustments, simulator sessions, and the roll-out in Weissach. He also mentioned that driving the Porsche 963 on the track in Aragon was a fun experience, although he had to adjust to the differences in driving with a roof over his head, dealing with the higher weight, and managing the tires.
According to German publication Auto Bild, Vettel quickly matched the pace of Laurens Vanthoor, a long-time Porsche campaigner, during the test. Jonathan Diuguid, the managing director of the Porsche Penske team overseeing the program, confirmed that Vettel came out of the car with a smile, indicating a positive outcome.
The scale and preparation for this test, along with its significance in Porsche’s preparations for the Le Mans race, suggest that Vettel’s involvement had competitive prospects in mind. Diuguid highlighted the importance of the Aragon circuit for Porsche’s preparations, as it allowed them to run continuously for 36 hours and reach top speeds of over 300km/h (186mph), similar to what they would experience at the Circuit des 24 Heures.
Publicly, both Porsche and Vettel have been cautious not to hint at any competitive plans beyond this test. Vettel emphasized that this experience was new to him and that there were no further plans for the future at the moment. Porsche emphasized the value of Vettel’s feedback and experience in the test. However, it is evident that racing together has not been ruled out, whether in the long-term or potentially sooner.
Porsche has six entries in the Hypercar class at Le Mans this year, including three customer cars and three factory Porsche Penske entries. While the customer car line-ups are confirmed, the #4 Porsche Penske entry for the IMSA SportsCar Championship only has one of the three drivers confirmed. There are several other Porsche drivers, such as Felipe Nasr, Nick Tandy, and Dane Cameron, who could potentially fill the remaining spots for Le Mans. Ultimately, Vettel may be favored over them.
It’s worth noting that Porsche has previously fielded a German F1 driver at Le Mans while they were still active in F1. They ran Nico Hulkenberg in 2015 as part of their third LMP1 car, and Hulkenberg’s crew won the race outright. Although the Hypercar class is different from LMP1, Porsche’s 963 has had a successful start to 2024, winning the Daytona 24 Hours and achieving a 1-2-3 finish in the WEC opener in Qatar.