Porsche 963 in WEC: from its beginnings to its end

WECHyperCar

Nov 25

The eight-hour Bahrain race, marked the Porsche Penske Motorspors last outing in the FIA WEC. The dream was to compete on both sides of the Atlantic with a LMDh prototype featuring a V8 biturbo engine and standardised hybrid components. The FIA WEC didn’t allow LMDh prototype to compete with Hypercars (LMH).

Whether you're a Ferrari, Toyota, or Cadillac fan, Porsche remains a key player in top-level endurance racing. Let's look back at the key moments of Porsche Penske Motorsports' adventure in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC).

📷© Luc Warnotte at Sebring 2023. Both Porsche 963 during Prologue

Start of the 963 program

16 December 2020, Porsche announces the return of its factory team to fight for overall victories at the world’s most prestigious endurance races. The new Hypercar regulations in the FIA WEC and the GTP category in the IMSA series allow identical race cars to compete on both sides of the Atlantic. Porsche opts to develop an LMDh prototype featuring a V8 biturbo engine and standardised hybrid components.

4 May 2021, The inception of the Porsche Penske Motorsport factory team: Building on a highly successful collaboration with the renowned American team in the 1970s with the Porsche 917, and again after the turn of the millennium with the Porsche RS Spyder, Porsche and Penske join forces once more. The new WEC squad is based in a redesigned Porsche Centre in Mannheim, Germany, while the IMSA team moves into the Penske facilities in Mooresville, North Carolina, USA.

📷© Luc Warnotte at Sebring 2023. Porsche Penske Motorpsorts with 4 Porsche 963 lineups for two championships: IMSA and FIA WEC.

14 January 2022: roll-out of the new Porsche 963

The motorsport world watches with anticipation and awe as the Porsche 963, the new Le Mans prototype, is rolled out at Porsche’s inhouse test facility in Weissach. Just five weeks later, extensive test sessions begin, including sessions at the Spanish Formula 1 circuit in Barcelona. In June 2022, the new LMDh car is officially unveiled at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the United Kingdom.

New Hypercars 2022 — 📷© Luc Warnotte at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. Four manufacturers presented their new LMDh (GTP) October 1st 2022, ahead of the Motul Petit Le Mans race. From left to right: Acura ARX06, BMW M V8 Hybrid, Cadillac V-Series.R, Porsche 963

17 March 2023: race debut of the Porsche 963

#6 Porsche 963 — 📷© Luc Warnotte at Sebring. First podium for Porsche 963 #6 with Kevin Estre, André Lotterer and Laurens Vanthoor.

After more than 30,000 test kilometres and the first IMSA race outings, the Porsche 963 makes its FIA WEC debut. At the 1,000-mile race in Sebring, the two factory cars finish fifth and sixth. Just a month later, the IMSA team notches up its first win for the 963 in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in Long Beach. It isn’t long before the WEC squad also gets its first taste of champagne.

16 April 2023: first WEC podium result for the Porsche 963

Porsche 963 #6 — 📷© Luc Warnotte at Portimao. First podium for #6 Porsche 963 with Kevin Estre, André Lotterer and Laurens Vanthoor.

At just its second WEC outing, the Porsche 963 achieves a podium result. At the six-hour race in Portimão, Portugal, Estre, Lotterer, and Vanthoor take third place following a flawless performance by the entire team. The podium finish is a well-deserved reward for the fledgling top squad, which has performed extensive development work on the standardised hybrid system for all manufacturers’ LMDh cars through rigorous testing.

10/11 June 2023: Le Mans debut for the Porsche 963

📷© Luc Warnotte at Le Mans. One of the IMSA Porsche Penske Motorsports was invited to participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans with #75. Felipe Nasr, Mathieu Jaminet and Nick Tandy drove the #75 Porsche 963 but had to abandon after 84 laps.

At the Porsche 963’s debut in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, three of the hybrid prototypes line up to race on the Circuit des 24 Heures. Their distinctive “butterfly” livery pays tribute to legendary Porsche racing designs. Such a impressive Le Mans lineup was made possible by the seamless collaboration of the global factory team in Mannheim and Mooresville, the Porsche Development Centre in Weissach, and all its partners. However, the major triumph at Le Mans remains elusive.

📷© Luc Warnotte at Le Mans. Both FIA WEC entries didn’t succeed in their first 24 Hours of Le Mans: #5 driven by Dane Cameron, Michael Christensen and Fred Makowiecki ended 16th overall, 17 laps behind the winning Ferrari; #6 driven by Kevin Estre, André Lotterer and Laurens Vanthoor ended 22nd overall, 5 laps behind #5 sister.

2 March 2024: second WEC season starts successfully

Porsche Penske Motorsport took the lessons from the 963’s debut season and implemented highly effective improvements – with resounding success. At the 2024 FIA WEC season opener in Qatar, the #5 car claims pole position, while its #6 sister car spearheads a 1‑2‑3 finish for the Porsche 963 in the race. At the next round in Imola, Italy, the two factory cars finish second and third. The 963’s status as the most successful LMDh car is now firmly cemented.

Three Porsche 963 — 📷© Luc Warnotte at Qatar 1812 km. Successfull first race of the second season for Porsche with three Porsche 963 squatting the overall podium: #6 Porsche 963 driven by Kevin Estre, André Lotterer and Laurens Vanthoor win the 10 hours race (9:55) 33.297 seconds ahead of Hertz Team JOTA Porsche 963 driven by Will Stevens, C. Ilott and Norman Nato, 1.099 minute ahead sister #5 driven by Dane Cameron, Michael Christensen and Fred Makowiecki. All other hypercars were one or more laps behind!

13 June 2024: Kévin Estre takes pole position at Le Mans

Porsche Penske Motorsport again campaigns three 963 cars at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. On qualifying day, Kévin Estre turns a flawless flying lap in the No. 6 cockpit and takes pole position. In the race, however, the team narrowly misses out on Porsche’s sought-after 20th overall victory, finishing fourth.

📷© Luc Warnotte at Le Mans 2024. From left to right: #4 Porsche 963 driven by Felipe Nasr, Mathieu Jaminet and Nick Tandy; 5 Porsche 963 #5 driven by Matt Campbell, Michael Christensen and Fred Makowiecki; #6 driven by Kevin Estre, André Lotterer and Laurens Vanthoor.

15 September 2024: win at the 6-hour race at Fuji

Following the disappointment at Le Mans, Porsche Penske Motorsport tackles the remaining races of the season with a nothing-to-lose mindset and total determination. Success quickly follows: a win in the six-hour race at Fuji, Japan, catapults Porsche to the top of the standings, with Estre, Lotterer, and Vanthoor heading to the big showdown in Bahrain as championship leaders.

2 November 2024: WEC drivers' world championship 2024

The WEC season finale in Bahrain delivers the first world championship trophies to Weissach: Kévin Estre, André Lotterer, and Laurens Vanthoor claim the 2024 drivers’ world championship in the Porsche 963. Porsche narrowly misses out on the manufacturers’ title by just two points. Meanwhile, the IMSA branch of the global Porsche Penske Motorsport operation secures all six titles in North America.

14/15 June 2025: victory at Le Mans narrowly missed

After a mediocre start to the FIA WEC season but four straight wins in the IMSA series, all eyes turn to Le Mans. Once again, the team delivers a flawless performance at the endurance classic.

Kévin Estre, Matt Campbell, and Laurens Vanthoor squeeze every ounce of potential from the #6 entry – but fall just short of victory in the fastest LMDh car in the Hypercar class, finishing second by only 14.084 seconds.

7 September 2025: win at six-hour race at Austin

The fight for the world championship crowns is still wide open. Porsche Penske Motorsport calls upon all its resources to bring the 2025 season to a triumphant conclusion.

The victory for Estre, Campbell, and Vanthoor in the six-hour race at Austin (USA) was followed by a podium finish in Japan three weeks later. Porsche remains in contention at the top of the manufacturers’ standings, while the #6 driver crew keeps their championship hopes alive.