In the upcoming week, Sebastian Vettel, the victor of 53 Formula 1 Grands Prix, will have the chance to take control of the WEC Hypercar at the Motorland Aragón. Porsche Penske Motorsport is actively preparing for this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans by conducting a 36-hour extended test in Spain.
“I am eagerly anticipating the opportunity to test the Porsche 963. I have already had the privilege of familiarizing myself with the car during a preliminary run in Weissach,” expressed Vettel, who retired from Formula 1 at the end of his career.
“I have always been interested in following other racing series, and my curiosity for endurance events has motivated me to give it a try. Now, I am excited about the lengthy test in Aragón and I am looking forward to my time behind the wheel.
“It will undoubtedly require some adjustment and adaptation, but the entire team has been incredibly supportive and helpful. This will be a completely new experience for me. As of now, there are no concrete plans for the future.”
During a preliminary run of the Porsche 963 at Porsche’s R&D Centre in Weissach, Vettel completed his initial laps in the hybrid prototype.
Stuttgart. Vettel is venturing into uncharted territory with this test drive: for the first time, the four-time Formula 1 world champion will gain firsthand experience in the cockpit of a hypercar prototype.
Since 2023, the Porsche Penske Motorsport factory team and private teams have competed with the Porsche 963 in the North American IMSA sports car series and the FIA World Endurance Championship WEC. After securing victory in three IMSA races last year, Porsche Penske Motorsport started the 2024 season with a triumph in both championships.
In the WEC, which includes the prestigious Le Mans 24-hour race, the entire field, including the hybrid race car, will utilize biofuel. This fuel has been in use in the WEC since March 2022.
“We are thrilled that Vettel has shown interest in our Porsche 963,” stated Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President of Porsche Motorsport.
“It was never a question for us to support his request for a test opportunity and provide him with extensive preparation and ample time to drive our hybrid prototype. We are certain that we will gain valuable insights from his feedback.
“Our 36-hour long run with Porsche Penske Motorsport and our factory drivers at Motorland Aragón provides the perfect environment for this,” added Laudenbach.
Vettel has diligently prepared for the test with the Porsche 963. On March 14th, he met with the operations crew at the Porsche Penske Motorsport facility in Mannheim. The following day, March 15th, the German completed an extensive session in the simulator at Porsche Motorsport.
During this time, he acquainted himself with the engineers and familiarized himself with the unique characteristics and intricate control systems of the Le Mans prototype. On March 21st, he had his first experience driving the Porsche 963 on the test track at the Weissach R&D Centre.
For the 36-year-old, it was an uncommon encounter: After participating in 299 Grand Prix races in Formula 1 open-wheel cars, it had been a while since Vettel had driven a racing car with a roof – previously only at the Race of Champions or for demonstration laps.
In the upcoming week, Porsche Penske Motorsport will head to the 5.345-kilometer circuit at Motorland Aragón near Alcañiz for a 36-hour long run.
Joining Vettel for the test will be the factory drivers Matt Campbell (Australia), Michael Christensen (Denmark), Frédéric Makowiecki (France), Kévin Estre (France), André Lotterer (Germany), and Laurens Vanthoor (Belgium).
This endurance test serves as preparation for the highlight of the season at Le Mans on June 15th and 16th. As the record holder, Porsche aims to secure its 20th overall victory at the Circuit des 24 Heures.
To enhance the likelihood of achieving the desired success, Porsche Penske Motorsport will introduce a third hybrid prototype made in Weissach at the French endurance classic in 2024. Mathieu Jaminet from France has already been confirmed as the driver for the #4 car.
The customer teams Hertz Team Jota and Proton Competition have entered three additional Porsche 963 race cars. Two Porsche 911 GT3 R cars campaigned by Manthey EMA and Manthey PureRxcing will compete in the new LMGT3 category.