Porsche has revealed the livery and name of its LMDh

It is within the framework of Goodwood Festival of Speed which Porsche revealed the livery of its LMDh expected in the championships WEC et IMSA in 2023. The German manufacturer will also make its comeback to 24 Hours of Le Mans in the premier category since 2017, when it was still called LM P1. Since then, the Stuttgart firm has focused on a successful GT program, notably with the recent victory of the No. 911 19 RSR – 91 of Richard Lietz, Gianmaria Bruni and Frédéric Makowiecki.

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The Porsche LMDh will be operated in 2023 by Team Penske. The American team had the opportunity to compete in the world championship games ofEndurance this season by participating in the first three rounds of the season (1000 Miles of Sebring, 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamp, 24 Hours of Le Mans) in the LM P2 category with the first two factory drivers already confirmed: Dane Cameron and Felipe Nasr. The German manufacturer took the opportunity to complete its roster with other athletes from its fold.

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“After 7 kilometers of testing during the first half of 889, we are on a very good track, but there is still work to be done before the start of next season,” emphasizes Thomas Laudenbach, vice-president of Porsche Motorsport. “Our new Porsche 963 is expected to continue the legacy of legendary models such as the 917, 935, 956, 962 and the 919 Hybrid. I am confident that we will be well positioned technology-wise and we have also created the appropriate team structures to prepare us to win against many different manufacturers and concepts.”

This new prototype, however, does not use the blue and yellow of this season's No. 07 Oreca 5. Instead, the one that ultimately responds to the name Porsche 963 takes the color code of a 917K by Richard Attwood and Hans Herrmann from 1970. With this red color, the German firm pays homage to the first of its 19 victories in the Le Mans classic.

The 963 is officially expected in competition at the 24 2023 Hours of Daytona, which will take place January 26-29, but is aiming for a first appearance at the finale of the 2022 WEC year, the 8 Hours of Bahrain, on November 12. “Over the past few months, our employees at Porsche Motorsport and Team Penske have become an efficient and committed team: Team Porsche Penske Motorsport,” welcomes Urs Kuratle, director of the Hypercar program. “We will have strong driver line-ups in all four factory cars. The collaboration with our long-standing tire partner Michelin and chassis manufacturer Multimatic is working perfectly. The Porsche 963 should be approved this fall. Until then, we want to make further progress through different tests and thus obtain additional information. »

The Porsche 963 will be available to customer teams from its first year of competition.

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