After almost twelve months of preparation with the new hybrid 963 prototype, things are about to get serious for Porsche Penske Motorsport: On 20 January, the 2023 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season kicks off with the so-called “ROAR Before the 24”. This three-day test at the Daytona International Speedway in the US state of Florida is used to set up the cars and to qualify for the 24-hour race. The endurance classic will be held from 28 to 29 January at the same venue. The new Porsche 911 GT3 R will also be showcased on an international stage at this event. Seven of the GT3 vehicles, based on the 992 generation of the 911, will tackle the American endurance classic.
After more than 30,000 test kilometres, the two Porsche 963 tackle their first race in the new GTP class of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship on the last weekend in January. As stated in the regulations, the new hybrid prototypes will fight for overall victory at the long-distance classic in Florida. At the World Center of Racing, the ca. 500 kW (680 PS) Porsche 963 will go up against rival vehicles from BMW, Cadillac and Acura. The newly developed Porsche 911 GT3 R also celebrates its race premiere. Five customer teams field a total of seven up to 416 kW (565 PS) GT3 racers in the GTD Pro and GTD categories.
“We’re very much looking forward to the Daytona season opener,” exclaims Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President Porsche Motorsport. “With the new Porsche 963, we’re finally back fighting for overall victories in the world’s biggest endurance events. Our Porsche Penske Motorsport squad and our drivers and specialists from the Weissach Development Centre have done absolutely everything to develop the 963 into a fast and reliable prototype. We’re curious to see how the competition will perform at Daytona, not only in the new top GTP class but also in the GTD categories with the new Porsche 911 GT3 R.”
The new Porsche 963 turned its first laps in January 2022 on Porsche’s test area in Weissach. The prototype then covered more than 30,000 kilometres on racetracks in Europe and North America. “We learned a lot from these tests and we experienced ups and downs in the process,” recalls Urs Kuratle. The Director Factory Motorsport LMDh adds: “We set ourselves the goal of reaching the 30,000-kilometre mark in the tests and we achieved this. We’ll use the ‘Roar’ at Daytona to continue tweaking the car as perfectly as possible for the race. We’ve worked hard towards putting ourselves in the best possible position for the start of the IMSA season.”
“Porsche Motorsport, the Penske team, Multimatic, Michelin and other partners have spent almost two years in a development phase,” says Jonathan Diuguid, Managing Director Porsche Penske Motorsport. “We’ve all pulled together to get the Porsche 963 as optimally prepared as possible for the upcoming challenge. We’ll go up against our rivals for the first time at the 24 Hours of Daytona. Before the lights turn green on race day Saturday, it’s difficult to predict how the scenario will unfold. We’ve done all we can to get the season off to a promising start. We’ll receive support at Daytona from our Porsche colleagues in the FIA World Endurance Championship WEC as well as our digital links to the Porsche Development Centre in Weissach and our European base in Mannheim.”
Six works drivers share the cockpits of the two Porsche 963 fielded by the new Porsche Penske Motorsport team in the GTP class. Nick Tandy from England and Mathieu Jaminet from France are the regular drivers in the No. 6 car. The two seasoned professionals receive reinforcement at the endurance event in Daytona from the American Dane Cameron. Sharing driving duties in the No. 7 car for the 2023 season are Australia’s Matt Campbell and Felipe Nasr from Brazil. Michael Christensen from Denmark supports the duo at the 24-hour race.
Nick Tandy (Porsche 963 #6): “After months of anticipation, we can finally get going now with the GTP class and the Porsche 963. We’ll encounter an enormous grid line-up with all kinds of vehicles, so I expect there’ll be huge international interest in this event. We’re well prepared. In the search for performance and stability, our crew considered and worked on everything down to the tiniest detail. It’s my first time fighting for overall victory at Daytona. I’m ready!”
Mathieu Jaminet (Porsche 963 #6): “Like us drivers, our entire squad and the development team have invested countless hours in developing the new Porsche 963. We’re heading to the first race full of anticipation and respect. We don’t yet know exactly what’s in store for us. We’d like to reach the finish line with as few incidents as possible. If we manage this, we’ll be ahead of the game, earn a lot of points and maybe big trophies.”
Matt Campbell (Porsche 963 #7): “We’ve put so much work and effort into developing the Porsche 963 over the past months to get it ready to race. The new era in endurance racing has finally arrived. For me, the step into hybrid prototypes also marks the start of a new chapter. I can hardly wait to climb into the car and fight for overall victories.”
Felipe Nasr (Porsche 963 #7): “We’re racing at last! I can’t think of a better event to launch the new era of endurance racing than the 24 Hours of Daytona. This is the first time the new prototypes will fight for overall victory in the GTP class in what will hopefully be a close and fiercely-fought competition. Personally, it’ll be a truly thrilling moment when I turn the first race laps in our car. Matt, Michael and I will do everything within our power to quickly turn the Porsche 963 into a winner.”
The schedule (local time, CET -6 hours)
24 Hours of Daytona
Thursday, 26 January
11:05 am to 12:35 pm: Free practice 1
3:20 pm to 5:05 pm: Free practice 2
7:15 pm to 9:00 pm: Free practice 3
Friday, 27 January
11:20 am to 12:20 pm: Free practice 4
6:25 pm to 6:45 pm: Free practice 5 (only GTP class)
Saturday, 28 January
1:40 pm: Start 24-hour race
Sunday, 29 January
1:40 pm: Chequered flag 24-hour race