Formula 1 legend, Sebastian Vettel, has linked up with the Porsche Penske Motorsport works team as part of their Porsche 963 program. This marks a special milestone in that it will be the first time that we’ll be seeing the four-time world champion piloting a hypercar prototype.
Despite his indisputable racing credentials at the highest tier, Seb has been put through a training program to fast-track him into this new-to-him genre of professional motorsport. This included a simulator session, which helped him get accustomed to the complex control systems in the prototype. Following that, the real deal was on tap, as Seb was provided with some seat-time in the Porsche 963 at the Weissach R&D Centre’s test track.
This will surely become crucial in the transition from single-seater-open-wheel formula car racing, to closed-roof LM prototype endurance racing. In an interview with Porsche newsroom media, Seb remarked, “I’m looking forward to testing the Porsche 963. I already got the chance to get a feel for the car during a rollout in Weissach. I’ve always followed other racing series and my curiosity for endurance events encouraged me to just give it a shot.”
Off To Spain
Things continue to unfold at a lightning-quick pace. In the coming days, Seb will be embarking on a trip to Motorland Aragón with a roster of other factory drivers which includes the likes of Kévin Estre and Laurens Vanthoor. Here, the Porsche Penske Motorsport team will be conducting a 36-hour shakedown of the 963 before the 92nd edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. That will be taking place from June 15-16 at the Circuit de la Sarthe, where Porsche looks to extend its record with a 20th outright victory at the renowned French proving grounds.
“Now I’m excited about the long run in Aragón and I’m looking forward to my time behind the wheel. It’ll definitely take an adjustment and some getting used to but everyone in the team is very open and helps me. This will be a new experience for me. We will then see what happens next in this respect – at the moment there are no further plans for the future,” he went on to elaborate.
We’re really looking forward to following one of the world’s most recognizable Formula 1 personalities during his journey driving under the Porsche banner. It sounds like Seb isn’t ruling out a longer-term run with the team either, which makes the prospect of it all the more mouth-watering!
More About the Porsche 963
“Since 2023, the Porsche Penske Motorsport works team and private teams have campaigned the Porsche 963 in the North American IMSA sports car series and the FIA World Endurance Championship WEC. After winning three IMSA races last year, Porsche Penske Motorsport succeeded in kicking off the 2024 season with a win in both championships. In the WEC, which also incorporates the Le Mans 24-hour highlight, the entire field including the hybrid race car will run on biofuel. This fuel has been used in the WEC since March 2022.” – per Porsche newsroom media.
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