Porsche’s motorsport legacy in the 2024 season is one for the history books, as the team swept seven out of eight possible titles across the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with the Porsche 963.
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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