Porsche 963
Porsche has accumulated numerous victories
Since the start of the WEC, Porsche has achieved many victories with its prototype racing cars and GT machines.
Porsche has competed in every race of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), the world’s most prestigious endurance race, which began in 2012. With 21 overall victories and over 50 class wins, Porsche is arguably the most successful automaker in the series.
In the 2025 season, the Porsche 963 took its first victory of the season at the Lone Star Le Mans, Round 6, held in Austin, Texas, USA. At the 2024 6 Hours of Fuji, Kevin Estre, Laurens Vanthoor and André Lotterer took their second win, paving the way for the title.
Porsche Motorsport Director Thomas Rodenbach expressed his enthusiasm for Fuji, saying, “We want to build on our success in Austin, where the sixth round was held, and close the gap in the manufacturers’ championship.”
At Fuji this year, Julien Andler and Mathieu Jaminet will drive the No. 5 963. Estre and Vanthoor will be at the wheel of the No. 6 car, which won the previous race. Customer team Proton Competition will be entrusting the third 963 to Neel Jani, Nico Pinot and Nicolas Barone.
In the LMGT3 category, Manthey-Fastforme’s Porsche 911 GT3 R will head to Fuji at the top of the standings, looking to secure their third win of the season and extend their lead in the points ahead of rivals Ferrari and Aston Martin.
The 2025 Fuji 6 Hours will be a major milestone for all participants. This Japanese round will be the 100th race since the launch of the WEC in 2012, making it a memorable event. Porsche works and customer teams have played a vital role in the development of the series and have produced many brilliant moments. Let’s take a look back at 20 memorable races from among the many that have taken place.
2012 12 Hours of Sebring
Porsche customer team Felbermayr Proton took a class victory in their WEC debut.
The FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) kicked off with a bang with the long-standing 12 Hours of Sebring in Florida on March 18, 2012. Christian Ried, Gianluca Roda, and Paolo Ruberti, driving a Porsche 911 RSR (Type 997) for customer team Felbermayr-Proton, won the GTE-Am class.
“We had won the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup the previous year, so the step up to the World Championship was a natural progression. To win our class in the first race was just sensational,” recalled Reid, the team owner whose team boasts the most WEC participations of any team.
2012, Spa 6 Hours
At the 2012 Spa 6 Hours, Lieb/Lietz won the GTE-Pro class in the WEC’s first race held in Europe.
After a successful debut in the United States, the WEC made its European debut in May 2012, where factory drivers Marc Lieb and Richard Lietz took victory in the GTE-Pro class at the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps in a Porsche 911 RSR.
“The WEC has given me so many unforgettable moments. From the very first season onwards, we have been successful and to this day we are still on the grid – it’s incredible,” Lietz said with a smile.
2013 Le Mans 24 Hours
Porsche’s new factory team achieved a double victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
In the 2013 season, Porsche entered the WEC as a factory team for the first time. Under the name “Porsche AG Team Manthey,” the team entered two Porsche 911 RSRs in the fiercely competitive GTE-Pro class. Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the 911, the team achieved sensational results.
At the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the factory team achieved a one-two finish, while customer team IMSA Performance Mattmut also won their class in the amateur category – Porsche’s 99th and 100th class victories at Le Mans.
2014 Silverstone 6 Hours
The newly developed prototype racing car, the Porsche 919 Hybrid, took the podium in its debut race.
Starting in the 2014 season, the WEC introduced the LMP1 class as its innovative top category, boasting overwhelming technological freedom. Porsche, the car with the most wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, returned to the top category with the 919 Hybrid. In its first race, the 6 Hours of Silverstone, works drivers Mark Webber, Timo Bernhard, and Brendon Hartley achieved podium finishes, heralding the start of a series of success stories that would follow.
2014 Sao Paulo 6 Hours
The Porsche 919 Hybrid took its first victory at the 2014 final race, the 6 Hours of Sao Paulo.
After five podiums in the first seven races, Neel Jani, Marc Lieb and Romain Dumas gave the 919 Hybrid its first victory at the final race, the 6 Hours of São Paulo. “It’s an incredible day for the team,” Lieb said at the finish. Jani added: “We believe our next goal, the world championship title and victory at Le Mans, is just around the corner.”
2015 Le Mans 24 Hours
In 2015, the Porsche 919 Hybrid won the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
After a disappointing debut season, the thoroughly improved 919 Hybrid dominated the WEC in 2015, with the Porsche works team winning six of the eight races and taking its 17th overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Nick Tandy, Earl Bamber and Formula 1 driver Nico Hulkenberg won the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans ahead of teammates Bernhard, Webber and Hartley, who went on to win the Drivers’ Championship that year.
2016 Le Mans 24 Hours
In a dramatic finish, Porsche won the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the second year in a row.
In the 2016 Le Mans 24 Hours, the 919 Hybrid was running in second place until the final lap of the race, when the leading Toyota car unexpectedly lost pace on the final lap. Porsche won the overall championship, just as it did the previous year.
“It feels unreal,” said Lieb, reflecting on Porsche’s journey to its 18th overall victory at Le Mans. Lieb, Jani and Dumas won the drivers’ title in 2016, and Porsche also successfully defended its manufacturers’ and teams’ titles.
2017 Le Mans 24 Hours
In 2017, the Porsche 919 Hybrid won the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the third consecutive year.
In 2017, Porsche achieved its 19th overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. After a breathtaking comeback, Timo Bernhard, Earl Bamber and Brendon Hartley won their third consecutive victory at Le Mans in a 919 Hybrid. This commemorative trophy will be preserved forever in the Porsche Museum. Bernhard, Bamber and Hartley also won the drivers’ title that season, completing Porsche’s treble.
2018 Le Mans 24 Hours
The Porsche 911 RSR “Rothmans” and “Pink Pig” will be appearing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Having put an end to its LMP1 program with the 919 Hybrid, Porsche has focused on GT racing since the 2018/19 season. To celebrate the brand’s 70th anniversary, the brand turned heads with a bold and vibrant performance at Le Mans.
The two 911 RSRs appeared on the grid wearing the historic “Pink Pig” and “Rothmans” liveries. The “Pink Pig” beat its teammate to take the class victory. “Today is the best day of my life. I won the most difficult and beautiful race in the world,” said factory driver Estre with joy.
2019 Le Mans 24 Hours
The 911 RSR takes its second class victory of the season at the second 24 Hours of Le Mans.
For the 2018/2019 season, the WEC adopted a new calendar concept. The nine-race season kicked off with the 24 Hours of Le Mans and concluded 12 months later with a second 24 Hours of Le Mans. Following the Pink Pig’s victory in 2018, customer team Project 1, driven by works driver Jörg Bergmeister, took victory in the GTE-Am class in June 2019.
2020 Bahrain 8 Hours
The new 911 RSR finishes its debut season with a 1-2 finish.
Porsche, which won its class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans last year and won both the Drivers’ and Manufacturers’ Championships, will be entering the new 911 RSR (2019 model) in the 2019/2020 season.
The 911, powered by a high-revving 4.2-liter flat-six engine, quickly captivated fans with its exhilarating sound. Success took a while, but at the season finale in Bahrain, the factory team achieved a one-two finish in the GTE-Pro class. In the GTE-Am class, where the previous generation RSR model continued to compete, customer team Project 1 took victory.
2022 Le Mans 24 Hours
The 911 RSR made a spectacular final appearance at the 2022 24 Hours of Le Mans.
With the arrival of the new Porsche 963 racing car looming, the highly successful 911 RSR bids a final farewell to Le Mans. The factory-built 911 RSR shone once again on the Circuit de la Sarthe.
Despite the difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Richard Lietz, Gianmaria Bruni and Frédéric Makowiecki stood on the top step of the GTE-Pro class podium. “Winning the last factory 911 RSR at Le Mans is a joy that is hard to put into words,” said an emotional Porsche Motorsport boss Rodenbach.
2023 12 Hours of Sebring
The new prototype racing car, the Porsche 963, will debut in the 2023 season.
In the 2023 season, Porsche returned to the top category of the WEC. Two Porsche 963s made their debut in the opening race, the 12 Hours of Sebring. The 963s finished 5th and 6th in the race. The WEC’s top hypercar class has seen a surge in new manufacturers, creating a level of excitement never before seen in modern endurance racing.
2023 Bahrain 8 Hours
The Iron Dames of Sarah Bobby, Rahel Frey and Michelle Gattin won their class in Bahrain.
After a transition period to the GTE-Am class, the 911 RSR will retire from the spotlight at the end of the 2023 season. That year, the Iron Dames team of Sarah Bobby, Rahel Frey and Michelle Gattin took their class victory at the 8 Hours of Bahrain, the first and only victory for a trio of women in the WEC. “It’s just an amazing win. We’ve been working hard for five years and it’s finally paying off in the final race of the 911 RSR,” said a delighted Frey.
2024, Qatar 1812km
In the 2024 season, the Porsche 963 dominated the podium at the 1,812km race in Qatar.
After a tough first season in the WEC and a successful run in the North American IMSA series, the 2024 season was a breakthrough year for Porsche. At the opening race in Qatar, 1,812 km away, three Porsche 963s took the top spot. Estre, Laurens Vanthoor and André Lotterer won, another Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963 came third, and a customer team Hertz Team Jota 963 came second, completing a Porsche sweep of the podium.
2024, Spa 6 Hours
In 2024, Hertz Team Jota’s Porsche 963 wins at Spa-Francorchamps.
Just one year after the debut of the customer-spec 963, Hertz Team Jota’s Porsche 963 took overall victory at the 6 Hours of Spa. In a chaotic race that included a prolonged red flag interruption, Julian Andler’s Proton Competition 963 delivered an incredible performance, taking the lead for a time, solidifying his place on the factory team from 2025.
2024 Le Mans 24 Hours
At Le Mans in 2024, Estre took pole position in a Porsche 963.
In the thrilling Hyperpole session of the 2024 Le Mans 24 Hours, works driver Estre took pole position in the 963 No. 6. However, the ideal starting position did not bring victory, and No. 6 finished the race in fourth place.
2024 Le Mans 24 Hours
The Porsche 911 GT3 R wins the LMGT3 class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The Manthey EMA Porsche 911 GT3 R took a dominant victory in the inaugural Le Mans 24 Hours of the newly established LMGT3 class. Factory driver Lietz, along with Yasser Sahin and Maurice Schuring, chased down their rivals to claim a landslide victory.
2024 Bahrain 8 Hours
Estre/Lotterer/Vanthoor win the WEC Drivers’ title.
After victories at Qatar and Fuji Speedway, and podium finishes at Imola, Spa and São Paulo, Estre, Lotterer and Vanthoor headed into the final race in Bahrain leading the drivers’ standings. Despite numerous penalties during the eight-hour race, they finished 10th and took the drivers’ title. However, Porsche missed out on the manufacturers’ championship by just two points.
2025 Le Mans 24 Hours
In the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Porsche 963 came in second place.
Porsche Penske Motorsport entered three 963s at the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans. Together, the three cars led for nearly 100 laps, with Campbell, Estre and Vanthoor ultimately finishing second. In the LMGT3 class, the Porsche 911 GT3 R once again took the top step of the podium, with works driver Lietz and teammates Ricardo Pella and Ryan Hardwick taking the win.
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