Seat Fit on March 14, 2024 at Porsche Penske Motorsport
Next week, Sebastian Vettel, the winner of 53 Formula 1 Grand Prix races, will have the chance to take control of the WEC Hypercar at Motorland Aragón. Porsche Penske Motorsport is actively preparing for this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, conducting an extended 36-hour test in Spain.
“I am looking forward to the opportunity to test the Porsche 963. I have already had the privilege of getting familiar with the car during a preliminary race 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 for the long test in Aragón and looking forward to my time behind the wheel.
“It will certainly require some adjustments and adaptation, but the whole team has been incredibly supportive and helpful. This will be a completely new experience for me. So far, there are no concrete plans for the future.”
During a preliminary race of the Porsche 963 at the Porsche Research and Development Center in Weissach, Vettel completed his first laps in the hybrid prototype.
Stuttgart. Vettel is venturing into unknown territory with this test: for the first time, the four-time Formula 1 world champion will have first-hand experience in the cockpit of a hypercar prototype.
Since 2023, the factory team of Porsche Penske Motorsport and private teams have been competing with the Porsche 963 in the IMSA sports car series in North America and the FIA WEC World Endurance Championship. After winning three IMSA races last year, Porsche Penske Motorsport kicked off the 2024 season with triumphs in both championships.
In WEC, which includes the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans race, the entire grid, including the hybrid race car, will use biofuel. This fuel has been in use in WEC since March 2022.
“We are thrilled that Vettel has shown interest in our Porsche 963,” said Thomas Laudenbach, vice president of Porsche Motorsport.
“For us, it was never a question to support his request for a test opportunity and provide him with extensive preparation and enough time to drive our hybrid prototype. We are confident that we will gain valuable insights from his feedback.
“Our 36-hour race with Porsche Penske Motorsport and our factory drivers at Motorland Aragón provides the perfect environment for this,” Laudenbach added.
Vettel diligently prepared for the test with the Porsche 963. On March 14, he met with the operations team at the Porsche Penske Motorsport facilities in Mannheim. The next day, March 15, the German completed an extensive session in the Porsche Motorsport simulator.
During this time, he familiarized himself with the engineers and got to know the unique characteristics and intricate control systems of the Le Mans prototype. On March 21, he had his first experience driving the Porsche 963 on the test track at the Weissach Research and Development Center.
For the 36-year-old driver, it was an unusual encounter: after participating in 299 Grand Prix races in Formula 1, it had been a while since Vettel had driven a roofed race car – previously only in the Race of Champions or for demonstration laps.
Next week, Porsche Penske Motorsport will head to the 5.345-kilometer circuit at Motorland Aragón, near Alcañiz, for a 36-hour race.
Following Vettel in the test will be 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 15 and 16. As the record holder, Porsche seeks to secure its 20th overall victory at Circuit des 24 Heures.
To increase the likelihood of achieving the desired success, Porsche Penske Motorsport will present 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 of car #4.
Customer teams Hertz Team Jota and Proton Competition have entered three additional Porsche 963 racing cars. Two Porsche 911 GT3 R cars, raced by Manthey EMA and Manthey PureRxcing, will compete in the new LMGT3 category.
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A new record was set in this weekend’s Formula 1 race. Brazilian driver Pedro Silva secured pole position and led the race from start to finish, showcasing his exceptional skills in corners and overtaking. With a lead of over 10 seconds over the second-place driver, Silva crossed the finish line celebrating his well-deserved victory. Fans were thrilled with the incredible performance of the driver and already consider him one of the best in Formula 1 history.
The race was marked by various emotions and breathtaking moments. Right at the start, there was a collision between two cars, resulting in both drivers retiring. This opened the door for Silva to take the lead and not look back. Even under pressure from more experienced competitors, he remained steadfast and made no mistakes.
During the race, we also had the presence of celebrities and sports personalities. The famous actor João Santos was seen in the pits, cheering for the Brazilian driver. In addition, former Formula 1 world champion Carlos Almeida attended the event and congratulated Silva for his impressive performance.
After the race, Silva was interviewed by journalists and expressed his gratitude to the team and fans for their unconditional support. He also revealed that he intends to continue training hard to achieve even more victories and win the world title.
Fans now eagerly await the next race, where they hope to see another display of skill and speed from Pedro Silva. Will he be able to maintain his dominance on the tracks and become the new Formula 1 champion? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: Silva is determined to leave his mark on the history of motorsport.
