Vettel testing with Porsche, the 24 Hours of Le Mans in sight?

Sebastian Vettel in a Porsche 963, here we go. The rumor had greatly increased in the paddock of WEC in 2023 for a possible participation of the German driver in the World ChampionshipEndurance 2024 in the Hypercar category with Hertz Team JOTA. This association ultimately did not see the light of day.

#Porsche963 - #PorscheMotorsport and #SebastianVettel are looking forward to putting the Porsche 963 through its paces. After proper preparations the 4-time #F1 world champion will take the #Hypercar's wheel @AragonMotorLand.

More information ⬇️https://t.co/WXilBmBnG3 pic.twitter.com/xopNpgkCqD

— Porsche Motorsport (@PorscheRaces) March 22, 2024

The German manufacturer finally announced this Friday, March 22 in the morning, the presence of the quadruple world champion of Formula 1 at the wheel of a prototype from the Stuttgart brand (Germany) during an upcoming 36-hour test session planned at Mortoland Aragón. Porsche Penske Motorsport will travel to the 5,345 kilometer circuit near Alcañiz (Spain) next week. Sebastian Vettel will join factory drivers Matt Campbell, Michael Christensen, Frédéric Makowiecki, Kévin Estre, André Lotterer and Laurens Vanthoor. This endurance test serves as preparation for the climax of the season for 24 Hours of Le Mans June 15 and 16. As record holder, Porsche is aiming for a 20th success at La Sarthe.

A participation in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in sight?

« I can't wait to test the Porsche 963, declares the person concerned. I have already had the opportunity to familiarize myself with the car during a run at Weissach (the manufacturer's private test track where racing and production cars are developed. Editor's note). I have always followed other championships and my curiosity for Endurance events encouraged me to try my luck. Now I'm excited about this test in Aragón and I can't wait to be behind the wheel. I will definitely have to adapt and get used to it, but everyone in the team is very open and helps me. This will be a new experience for me. »

« We are delighted that Sebastian Vettel is interested in our Porsche 963, explains Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President of Porsche Motorsport. We are happy to accommodate his request for testing and provide him with comprehensive preparation and plenty of time to drive our hybrid prototype – there is no doubt that we will learn a lot from his valuable feedback. Our 36-hour test with Porsche Penske Motorsport and our factory drivers at Motorland Aragón provides the perfect environment for this. »

The German champion, aged 36, methodically prepared for this great premiere. On March 14, he met the operations team in Mannheim (Porsche), before settling into the simulator the next day. He was thus able to get to know the engineers while getting used to the particularities and complex control systems of the LMDh.

#Porsche963 - #SebastianVettel tests the Porsche 963. The winner of 53 #F1 Grands Prix drove his 1st laps with the #Hypercar prototype at #Porsche's R&D Center in #Weissach before joining #PorschePenskeMotorsport's 36h test at #MotorlandAragon.#Raceborn #PorscheMotorsport #LMDh pic.twitter.com/RD1q2RwEQK

— Porsche Motorsport (@PorscheRaces) March 22, 2024

Can we therefore imagine Sebastian Vettel at the start of the 24 Hours of Le Mans this year? “ We will then see what happens in this regard – for now there are no further plans for the future », replies the person concerned. It still looks like a first step forward towards a return to competition. Porsche will line up at least six examples of its 963 in Sarthe. To the two official cars already entered in the WEC, will be added a third Porsche Penske Motorsport in which only Mathieu Jaminet has been confirmed for the moment. The two Hertz Team JOTA customers as well as that of Proton Competition will also be at the start. Or even a second for Proton? Suspense!

As a reminder, Porsche has already tried the experience of Formula 1 drivers at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, like Nico Hulkenberg who won the event on his first and only attempt, in 2015.

(Photos: Porsche)

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