Four Porsche 963 and three Porsche 911 GT3 R tackle the 24 Hours of Le Mans [Photo Gallery]

With 19 overall and 111 class victories, Porsche is the most successful manufacturer in Le Mans history. The 24-hour race is one of the biggest sporting events globally, attracting over 325,000 fans annually. For the 93rd edition of the endurance classic, Porsche has set ambitious goals. The Porsche 963 aims to build on the legacy of legendary machines such as the 917, 936, 956, 962, 911 GT1, and 919 Hybrid. Last season, Porsche clinched the drivers’ world championship in the WEC and secured six titles in the North American IMSA series. As in the past two years, the factory team enters three 695 hp (511 kW) hybrid prototypes to compete for top honors.

“Since the regulations were introduced, the Porsche 963 has proven to be the most successful LMDh race car in both the FIA WEC and the IMSA series – a position we now intend to affirm at Le Mans in fierce competition against prototypes from seven other manufacturers,” says Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President Porsche Motorsport. “Last year we secured pole position but couldn’t convert it into the result we hoped for despite a strong performance by the team and drivers. We’re hopeful that the conditions are right this year. We’ll give it everything to secure the 20th overall win for Porsche. Our cars are perfectly prepped, the team is in peak form, and the drivers highly motivated.”

“I expect a tightly contested battle, as nearly all 21 Hypercar entries are capable of winning,” says Urs Kuratle, Director Factory Motorsport LMDh. “Most of the cars are now in their third season and are therefore highly reliable. The teams are experienced and well-coordinated. In these conditions, the fight for overall victory will be decided by the finest of margins – strategy and flawless pit work will be key. In those aspects, I believe we’re very well positioned. Still, making precise predictions is difficult – the true performance balance will only reveal itself after the first four or five hours of the race.”

“For the first time, we’ve prepped all three Porsche 963 at our facility in Mannheim – a big milestone. We’ve also added personnel to support us during the Le Mans effort,” explains Jonathan Diuguid, Managing Director Porsche Penske Motorsport. “We’re better prepared than ever before. The Porsche 963 is extremely reliable, the team is in perfect sync, and our driver line-up is world-class. Let’s go racing!”