With 19 overall and 111 class victories, Porsche is the most successful manufacturer in Le Mans history. The 24-hour race is one of the biggest sporting events globally, attracting over 325,000 fans annually. For the 93rd edition of the endurance classic, Porsche has set ambitious goals. The Porsche 963 aims to build on the legacy of legendary machines such as the 917, 936, 956, 962, 911 GT1, and 919 Hybrid. Last season, Porsche clinched the drivers’ world championship in the WEC and secured six titles in the North American IMSA series. As in the past two years, the factory team enters three 695 hp (511 kW) hybrid prototypes to compete for top honors.
The Porsche race cars at the 24 Hours of Le Mans
Hypercar class (Porsche 963):
- Porsche Penske Motorsport Nr. 4: Felipe Nasr (BRA), Nick Tandy (GBR), Pascal Wehrlein (DEU)
- Porsche Penske Motorsport Nr. 5: Julien Andlauer (FRA), Michael Christensen (DNK), Nico Müller (SUI)
- Porsche Penske Motorsport Nr. 6: Kévin Estre (FRA), Laurens Vanthoor (BEL), Pascal Wehrlein (DEU)
- Proton Competition Nr. 99: Neel Jani (SUI), Nico Pino (CHL), Nico Varrone (ARG)
LMGT3 class (Porsche 911 GT3 R):
- Iron Dames Nr. 85: Sarah Bovy (BEL), Rahel Frey (SUI), Célia Martin (FRA)
- Manthey Nr. 90: Antares Au (HKG), Klaus Bachler (AUT), Loek Hartog (NLD)
- Manthey 1st Phorm Nr. 92: Ryan Hardwick (USA), Richard Lietz (AUT), Riccardo Pera (ITA)
24 Hours of Le Mans: Porsche overall victories
- 1970 – Herrmann (DEU) / Attwood (GBR), Porsche 917 KH
- 1971 – Marko (AUT) / Van Lennep (NLD), Porsche 917 KH
- 1976 – Ickx (BEL) / Van Lennep (NLD), Porsche 936
- 1977 – Ickx (BEL) / Haywood (USA) / Barth (DEU), Porsche 936/77
- 1979 – Ludwig (DEU) / D. Whittington (USA) / B. Whittington (USA), Porsche 935 K3
- 1981 – Ickx (BEL) / Bell (GBR), Porsche 936
- 1982 – Ickx (BEL) / Bell (GBR), Porsche 956
- 1983 – Schuppan (AUS) / Haywood (USA) / Holbert (USA), Porsche 956
- 1984 – Pescarolo (FRA) / Ludwig (DEU), Porsche 956
- 1985 – Barilla (ITA) / Ludwig (DEU) / Krages (DEU), Porsche 956
- 1986 – Bell (GBR) / Stuck (DEU) / Holbert (USA), Porsche 962C
- 1987 – Bell (GBR) / Stuck (DEU) / Holbert (USA), Porsche 962C
- 1994 – Dalmas (FRA) / Haywood (USA) / Baldi (ITA), Dauer Porsche 962 LM
- 1996 – Wurz (AUT) / Reuter (DEU) / Jones (USA), TWR Porsche WSC-95
- 1997 – Kristensen (DNK) / Alboreto (ITA) / Johansson (SWE), TWR Porsche WSC-95
- 1998 – Aiello (FRA) / McNish (GBR) / Ortelli (FRA), Porsche 911 GT1
- 2015 – Bamber (NZL) / Tandy (GBR) / Hülkenberg (DEU), Porsche 919 Hybrid
- 2016 – Jani (SUI) / Lieb (DEU) / Dumas (FRA), Porsche 919 Hybrid
- 2017 – Bernhard (DEU) / Hartley (NZL) / Bamber (NZL), Porsche 919 Hybrid
“Since the regulations were introduced, the Porsche 963 has proven to be the most successful LMDh race car in both the FIA WEC and the IMSA series – a position we now intend to affirm at Le Mans in fierce competition against prototypes from seven other manufacturers,” says Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President Porsche Motorsport. “Last year we secured pole position but couldn’t convert it into the result we hoped for despite a strong performance by the team and drivers. We’re hopeful that the conditions are right this year. We’ll give it everything to secure the 20th overall win for Porsche. Our cars are perfectly prepped, the team is in peak form, and the drivers highly motivated.”
“I expect a tightly contested battle, as nearly all 21 Hypercar entries are capable of winning,” says Urs Kuratle, Director Factory Motorsport LMDh. “Most of the cars are now in their third season and are therefore highly reliable. The teams are experienced and well-coordinated. In these conditions, the fight for overall victory will be decided by the finest of margins – strategy and flawless pit work will be key. In those aspects, I believe we’re very well positioned. Still, making precise predictions is difficult – the true performance balance will only reveal itself after the first four or five hours of the race.”
“For the first time, we’ve prepped all three Porsche 963 at our facility in Mannheim – a big milestone. We’ve also added personnel to support us during the Le Mans effort,” explains Jonathan Diuguid, Managing Director Porsche Penske Motorsport. “We’re better prepared than ever before. The Porsche 963 is extremely reliable, the team is in perfect sync, and our driver line-up is world-class. Let’s go racing!”
The Race
As round four of the FIA World Endurance Championship, the 24 Hours of Le Mans is the ultimate highlight of the season. Due to the extended race distance, double championship points are awarded. The iconic event, first held in 1923, features additional elements like Slow Zones – temporary speed-limited sections for local hazards – owing to the 13.626-kilometer lap length at the Circuit des 24 Heures. The race starts on Saturday, June 14 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time / 4:00 p.m. CET.
The historic circuit, located in the south of Le Mans, consists of two-thirds public roads. On normal days, the famous Mulsanne Straight (Hunaudières) is used by hundreds of trucks and cars traveling between Le Mans and Tours. Notable sections include the fast and technical Porsche Curves, known for high speeds and minimal runoff – demanding precision and bravery from every driver. The circuit is available for testing only once per season, which took place the previous Sunday.
Porsche Penske Motorsport with ten factory drivers at Le Mans
Car Nr. 5 will be driven by Michael Christensen from Denmark and the two Frenchmen Julien Andlauer and Mathieu Jaminet. The Nr. 6 sister car features reigning WEC champions Kévin Estre from France, Laurens Vanthoor from Belgium and Matt Campbell (Australia). The additional Nr. 4 Porsche 963 will be piloted by IMSA points leaders Felipe Nasr and Nick Tandy, alongside Formula E champion Pascal Wehrlein. Swiss factory driver Nico Müller, currently racing for Andretti in Formula E, serves as reserve at Le Mans.
Customer team Proton Competition fields a fourth Porsche 963 in the Hypercar class. Their Nr. 99 entry will be driven by Neel Jani from Switzerland, Nico Pino (Chile), and Nico Varrone (Argentina). A total of 21 Hypercars from eight manufacturers will contest the top class. On June 14, 62 entries across three classes will take the start.
LMGT3 Class: reigning champions Manthey field three Porsche 911 GT3 R
Defending class winners Manthey have bolstered their lineup for the season’s main event, entering three Porsche 911 GT3 R race cars, each producing up to 416 kW (565 hp). The Manthey 1st Phorm Nr. 92 will be driven by Ryan Hardwick (USA), Riccardo Pera (Italy), and Porsche factory ace Richard Lietz from Austria. The Iron Dames Nr. 85 is shared by Rahel Frey, Célia Martin, and Sarah Bovy, who replaces the injured Michelle Gatting. This car will race in a special livery titled “Powering your Dreams.”
A standout is the Manthey Nr. 90, entered under the fictional “Chip Hart Racing” banner, driven by Antares Au, Loek Hartog, and Klaus Bachler. A similar car featured in the filming of the movie “F1” with Brad Pitt during the 2024 24 Hours of Daytona. The Hollywood blockbuster will premiere globally on June 25.
2024 Le Mans Highlights
Above content © 2025 Porsche AG reviewed and edited by Rex McAfee
