Sebastian Vettel to Test Porsche 963 with Penske Motorsport

Former Formula 1 driver Sebastian Vettel, known for his 4 world titles, is gearing up to test the Porsche 963 hybrid endurance prototype. This activity is scheduled for next week and will be organized by the Porsche Penske Motorsport team.

Porsche Penske Motorsport is focusing on this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans and is conducting these tests in Spain. Vettel, who has already worked extensively in the simulator, is ready to drive the Porsche 963 at the Aragón circuit. It is worth noting that this is not his first experience with this vehicle, as he previously had a practice session at the Weissach Development Center.

The challenge for Vettel is to adapt to an environment different from Formula 1. His goal is to gain experience with the top-category Hypercar. Since 2023, the Porsche 963 has competed in the FIA World Endurance Championship and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The team has started the 2024 season with victories in both championships. Since March 2002, all vehicles in the WEC, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, have used biofuel.

Vettel shows enthusiasm for this new opportunity. "I'm really looking forward to driving the Porsche 963," he said. He emphasizes the need for an adaptation period and trusts the team's support for this new experience.

Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President of Porsche Motorsport, expresses his satisfaction with Vettel's participation. He highlights that the team will provide intensive preparation and sufficient track time to maximize learning during the 36-hour tests at the Spanish circuit.

Vettel's preparation has been meticulous, including meetings with the Porsche Penske Motorsport team and sessions in the simulator. This allowed him to familiarize himself with the prototype and its control systems before his first test in Weissach. For Vettel, accustomed to Formula 1, driving endurance vehicles is a new and challenging experience.

The upcoming 36-hour tests at Motorland Aragón will feature the presence of official drivers such as Matt Campbell, Michael Christensen, Frédéric Makowiecki, Kévin Estre, André Lotterer, and Laurens Vanthoor. These practices are essential for the preparation of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where Porsche aims for its twentieth victory.

Finally, Porsche Penske Motorsport plans to present a third hybrid prototype at Le Mans. In addition, customer teams Hertz Team Jota and Proton Competition will enter three additional Porsche 963s, and two Porsche 911 GT3 Rs will be fielded by Manthey EMA and Manthey Pure Racing. This collaborative effort increases the chances of success in the iconic race.