FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

Dennis Power

Porsche is gearing up to mark the centenary of the Le Mans 24-hour race in 2023 by entering its latest hybrid race car, the Porsche 963 LMDh sports prototype. The competition takes place June 10 and 11. This will be an exciting development for racing enthusiasts, and for Porsche fans, as Porsche has a long and storied history at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The addition of the 963 to the top Hypercar class is sure to generate a lot of interest.

It’s probably not news to you that the Porsche 963 is a hybrid race car developed specifically for the 24 Hours of Le Mans and endurance races of its kind. It is an evolution of the 919 Hybrid that Porsche used to win the race in 2015, 2016, and 2017. The 963 has a more powerful hybrid system than its predecessor, as well as a lighter and more aerodynamic body. The engine is a 4.6L, twin turbo V8 generating 670-700 hp on a cocktail of oxygen and 100 octane biofuel.

Porsche has a rich history at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, having first entered the race in 1951. The brand has gone on to win a record 19 times, making it one of the most successful manufacturers in the history of the race. Porsche’s last victory at the race came in 2017, when it won with the 919 Hybrid.

The Le Mans race is a grueling competition, known for being one of the toughest in the world, with drivers having to navigate a challenging course that includes long straightaways and tight corners. The 963 is expected to showcase the latest in racing technology, with Porsche using the race as a platform to test and refine its hybrid system.

Four of the sixteen Hypercars entered will be our favorite marque. Porsche will have a full three-car factory-backed entry in the Hypercar class with a trio of Penske-run 963s. The fourth is an independent entry for Hertz Team Jota. That makes it one-quarter of the Hypercar field fighting for overall victory. Cadillac will have three cars, while Toyota, Ferrari, Peugeot, and Glickenhaus will have two cars each, and the AustrianGerman Vanwall Racing Team will enter a single car. Given the number of entries, and with its cutting-edge hybrid technology and racing pedigree, Porsche is sure to be a formidable contender.

There will be a lot of sorting out to do in the endurance races that precede Le Mans. Major setbacks hampered the two Porsche 963s fielded by the Porsche Penske Motorsport factory squad at the 61st edition of the 24 Hours of Daytona. Also, the Twelve Hours of Sebring held last March didn’t see the 963s come out on top either. However, the new Porsche 963 GTP finished first and third ahead of Cadillac, BMW, and Acura at the Long Beach Grand Prix; first win for Porsche in the premier series!