Porsche 963 To Don Special Livery for Le Mans

Unique Look

Porsche and Le Mans have a rich history together, with the former racking up many wins at the iconic endurance race. Thus, it's no surprise to learn that Porsche and Penske Motorsport plan to deck out their three 963 racers destined for this year's event with a very special trio of liveries that were unveiled during the recent FIA World Endurance Championship WEC race weekend in Belgium.

Photos: Porsche

Varying Looks

This look consists of fifteen stripes in seven different colors, which flow from the front and flare out at the rear of the Porsche 963, representing the core design element. To differentiate between the three racing cars, fins on each engine hood have different colors as well - black for the No. 5 car, white for the No. 6, and red for the third No. 75 Le Mans racer. 

Photos: Porsche

Celebrating a Legacy

“This year, we are celebrating 75 years of Porsche sports cars. Motorsport, and endurance racing in particular, is a core element of our Porsche DNA. Therefore, the 100th anniversary of the Le Mans 24 Hours also has a special significance for the Porsche brand as well,” said Detlev von Platen, Member of the Executive Board, Sales and Marketing. “The color scheme of the three works race cars connects both anniversaries. Every color on the Porsche 963s has its own Le Mans history. And we are very proud of every single one of them.”

Photos: Porsche

Continuing the Tradition

“In Le Mans, our three Porsche 963 will be truly eye-catching at the 75th anniversary of our brand and the 100th anniversary of the 24-hour race. I do not doubt that this design will immediately win the hearts of fans,” added Thomas Laudenbach. “We embraced the vehicle designs from Porsche’s rich and illustrious history at Le Mans. The 917 as a pink “pig” and the “hippie car” from 1970 – these liveries have made racing history and are still popular today. With our special design on the three Porsche 963, we’re continuing this great tradition at Le Mans.”

Photos: Porsche

Significance

On the outside, orange is a salute to the legendary Gulf design present on the Porsche 917 from the 1970s, while the pink stripe acknowledges the “pig” – the celebrated Porsche 917 from 1971. This paintwork was revisited in 2018 on the Porsche 911 RSR, which went on to win the GTE-Pro class at Le Mans. Also featured is the green and light blue of the 917 from 1970, fondly known as the “Hippie”, as well as the iconic Martini design which was painted on the Porsche 936, among others, at its outright Le Mans victory in 1977. The dark blue is a nod to the Rothmans’ paintwork on the Porsche 956 from 1982 and 1983, next to it, a vivid red commemorating the Salzburg-Porsche 917 – the first overall winner from Stuttgart from the year 1970. A yellow stripe in the middle completes the design. In combination with the red, it pays tribute to the Porsche RS Spyder, with which the Penske team scooped the title pool in the LMP2 class of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) from 2006 to 2008.  

Photos: Porsche

Little Work

“The Porsche 963 has a very long wheelbase – so we had to play with the proportions a bit,” explained Stephane Lenglin. “The lines of color fanning out to the rear lend beautiful dynamics and harmonious proportions. Working on this design was a lot of fun. We played with many different color combinations and finally settled on seven color schemes that allow an immediately recognizable look into Porsche’s long and illustrious history and the special Le Mans liveries. I’m sure that the cars will be well received by the fans.”

Photos: Porsche

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