But at Weissach, Porsche’s iconic Development Centre, the LMP 2000, a car that once held the promise of dominating Le Mans, has roared back into existence.

Designed for the LMP900 Le Mans prototype class, the LMP 2000 was all set to revolutionise endurance racing in the early 2000s. With a svelte carbon chassis, a naturally aspirated 5.5-litre V10 engine pumping out over 600PS, and a lean build that tipped the scales at under 900kg, it was every bit the thoroughbred racer.

But fate had other plans. Budget cuts saw the project shelved in 1999, just after a mere 78 kilometres of testing. The car was left covered in the Porsche archives.

Fast forward to today. Porsche’s Heritage and Museum team has resurrected this sleeping beauty. And to ensure it was more than just a trip down memory lane, Allan McNish, the man who last drove the car in 1999, was back in the cockpit for its triumphant return.

For McNish, now 54, the experience was nothing short of surreal. “It feels like I’ve just travelled back 25 years,” he said, his excitement mirroring the smiles of the original team members who had gathered for this moment.

For Timo Bernhard, Le Mans winner and Porsche Brand Ambassador, the LMP 2000 symbolised youthful aspirations.

“When I first saw it, I dreamt of driving it one day. And now, here I am, 25 years later, taking it for a spin,” he shared, clearly enthralled by the car’s agility and its “buttery smooth” V10 engine.

Reviving a car that had spent decades in hibernation was no small feat. The team had to reverse-engineer its gearbox and adapt modern Formula E control units to make the paddle shifters functional.

“Hearing the V10 engine roar back to life was a moment of pure magic,” said Steffen Wolf, an engineer from Porsche’s engine management systems. It was a painstaking process, but the reward was unmistakable.

The LMP 2000 also represents a bridge between eras. Its V10 engine draws inspiration from Porsche’s earlier Formula 1 ventures, modified for the gruelling demands of Le Mans.

For Norbert Singer, the project’s original race engineer, the LMP 2000 has always been a bittersweet chapter.

“We built it to win Le Mans,” he recalled. Yet, the car never got its moment under the race-day lights. Still, seeing it revived 25 years later was a triumph. “This car embodies what Porsche is all about—pushing boundaries and daring to dream.”

Today, as the LMP 2000 takes to the track once more. With fewer than 80 kilometres on the odometer, it may not have a race history to boast of, but it has a story worth telling.

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Let’s rewind to December 16, 2020. Porsche announced their return to the top-tier endurance racing scene, committing to the FIA WEC and IMSA with the LMDh (Le Mans Daytona hybrid) class.

Porsche’s weapon of choice became the 963, a beast powered by a 4.6-litre V8 engine, a nod to their victorious RS Spyder lineage.

Meticulous preparation bore fruit in 2023, but it wasn’t all smooth sailing. They snagged some podiums and wins, but Le Mans remained a mountain to climb.

Armed with lessons learned and a revamped setup, Porsche roared into Daytona 2024. The 24-hour endurance race was the proving ground, and Matt Campbell, Felipe Nasr, Dane Cameron, and Josef Newgarden clinched victory, setting the tone for a spectacular year.

Jonathan Diuguid, Managing Director at Porsche Penske Motorsport, summed it up: “Moments like Daytona remind us why we pour every ounce of effort into this sport. It was a win that ignited our season.”

From Qatar to Fuji, Porsche Penske Motorsport continued their reign, clocking wins and podiums in both the IMSA and WEC circuits. Four wins out of nine IMSA races, with every race (except Indianapolis) featuring a Porsche on the podium.

In WEC, victories in Qatar and Fuji underscored their dominance, with key performances in iconic circuits like Spa and São Paulo.

With the season drawn to a close, Porsche bagged a chest of titles: manufacturers’, team, and drivers’ championships in IMSA, with Kévin Estre, André Lotterer, and Laurens Vanthoor crowned world champions in WEC.

At Le Mans, despite starting strong with pole positions and leading laps, the coveted 20th overall victory slipped through Porsche’s grasp. Yet, the lessons learned are etched into the 963’s DNA. A redesigned 90-degree crankshaft and improved reliability promise a fiercer comeback in 2025. 

As Thomas Laudenbach, Porsche Motorsport’s VP, put it, “Despite our incredible season, there’s this little race in France everyone wants to win. We’ll be back, stronger and hungrier.”

With eyes set on Le Mans 2025, Porsche Penske Motorsport aims to extend its record-breaking legacy. If 2024 was about mastery, 2025 promises redemption.

And with the 963 continuing to evolve, Porsche’s journey in endurance racing is far from over.

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If you haven’t been living under a rock, you would know that Porsche is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. 2023 is truly a special year for the German marque, and its deep racing roots headed to one of the world’s most prominent racing events – Le Mans. Porsche rocked the 100th 24 Hours of Le Mans dancefloor in the Hypercar segment, debuting its all-new 963.

She’s a beauty ain’t she?

To kickstart the momentous Le Mans occasion, Porsche Singapore recently organised a fun 2.4-hour Endurance Karting Challenge. This race saw members of the media banding together to form teams and race against each other. Think Le Mans, but on a cuter scale.

To make it fair for all participants, everyone was grouped into random teams of three drivers, and each team has the liberty to draft up unique strategies for the race.

The race had a duration of 144 minutes, and each driver is forced back into the pits after a maximum of 30 minutes, ensuring each stint is fair. In total, at least four driver changes were needed to complete the race, and the fatigue garnered over the course of the 2 hours really provided a genuine experience of endurance racing.

To really bring the spirit of Le Mans to the track, Porsche Singapore partnered with KF1 to dress up the karts in timeless, iconic Porsche liveries that are renowned throughout the decades. Some notable liveries included the Apple Computer, Pink Pig, and the Martini.

True to the spirit of endurance racing, and to the dismay of the first drivers, the kart race was flagged off with a historic ‘Le Mans Start’ – where each driver had to run to their kart to start the race. 

It was a sensational race throughout, with close bumper-to-bumper racing, lots of contact, mechanical issues, and sore limbs. People were jumping into karts raring to go, and coming back into the pits exhausted after a bountiful number of hot laps. 

Though everyone were in karts, the 2.4-hour kart race was every bit as exhilarating as the real deal. We hope.

After the chequered flag was waved and winners coined, all participants then got to wind down with a live screening of the start of the 100th running of the Le Mans. Talk about a motorsports-fuelled evening. 

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If you think that “Prius 24h Le Mans Centennial GR Edition” is a mouthful, we agree.

It’s been 100 years since the famed French 24 hours race was first run back in 1923, and to mark this momentous occasion, Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO), Toyota, Toyota GAZOO Racing (TGR) and Mazda Motor Corporation jointly held an exhibit called “Japan. Endless Discovery.” where this hotted-up concept Prius was unveiled to the world at the Manufacturers’ Village at Le Mans in France.

Notable improvements seen here include improved aerodynamics and traction by way of exclusive performance aerodynamic parts (side skirts, canards, large rear wing, rear diffuser, etc.), lightweight carbon-fibre bonnet, wide-track suspension, 235/50R18 tyres and exclusive aerodynamic wheels, and multi-headlamps for improved nighttime visibility.

This concept Prius takes inspiration from TGR’s WEC-competing GR010 HYBRID race car.

If you’re wondering why Mazda is also involved in this exhibition, it’s because back in 1991, Mazda was the first Japanese manufacturer to take the overall title at Le Mans, so they definitely have some standing here. Currently, TGR is the only Japanese automaker in the French endurance race that’s also on a five-year winning streak.

See the manga on the walls behind the cars? That’s the work of manga artist Masahito Soda, renown for his motorsports-themed capeta manga series, and was given the honour of conveying the scenery and culture of Japan as well as the history of Mazda and Toyota at Le Mans through his art form.

“For me, a race fan for as long as I can remember, June is a special month every year. It was fun for me to reflect on the famous scenes so far and to draw while imbuing my pen with respect. To the great Le Mans 24 Hours, which marks its centenary, to Mazda, which was the first Japanese manufacturer to win Le Mans, to TGR, which is contributing to the world through its victories in Le Mans and other motorsports events, and to all the racing drivers who continue to inspire us, I would like to say: ‘Thank you very much.’ I have learned a great deal from Japanese craftmanship and the attitude of taking on challenges while never giving up, especially since I became a manga artist. Toward the realization of a carbon-neutral society and the taking on of new challenges for the future, I believe that this race will surely open up a world of possibilities. I will put everything I have into supporting it again this year,” said Masahito Soda who is also car enthusiast at heart.

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These aren’t just for appearances either, and the cars are more than just special paint with limited edition badges.

All cars will be painted in a lush coat of Verdant Green with a prominent white racing stripe running down the hood. The stripe will be present for both coupes and the Continental GTC drop-top, with the former having the stripe carried over the roof.

All cars also get the number 7 painted white on the grille – the same number worn by the legendary race-winning Bentley Speed 8 in 2003. Bentley also threw in bespoke pinstriping on the interior. To top it all off, there are special 24-hour badges dotted around the car, so others will know that you cashed out for something truly special.

Inside, one unique piece that sits front and centre in the vehicle are the valves of the actual race-winning engine from the Speed 8. 24 valves from the engine have been cut in half, and each car is bestowed a piece in a small display on the dash where you’d typically find the central dial on the three-gauge analogue cluster. The display also has a stamped production number, identifying it as a Le Mans Collection vehicle.

Other special touches include Bentley’s signature analogue clock but switched from a 12-hour to a 24-hour timepiece. Door sill plates and other dash trim items will feature the six-wreath emblem, symbolising Bentley’s Le Mans wins through the years. 

Bentley doesn’t specify costs or availability for the Continental GT Le Mans Collection, nor reveal exactly how many coupes or convertibles will be made. What we do know, however, is the 48 units will be for global markets, making it an extremely rare vehicle.

No harm popping into your local Bentley dealer and enquiring right?

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