What made Porsche Penske Motorsport’s 963 excel?
Last year at this time, everything began to fall into place for the new-for-2023 prototype, which had initially struggled despite an extensive pre-season testing phase that began in summer 2022, in contrast to its IMSA SportsCar Championship competitors: Acura, BMW, and Cadillac.
While it secured a front-row spot at the Daytona 24 Hours, gearbox issues eliminated one vehicle, and the other finished 14th, encountering problems with the newly introduced common hybrid system. There were certainly some disappointed faces in the garage that day.
At Sebring, it became clear that when temperatures dropped at night, the 963 could uncover its optimal performance range. However, a late-race incident with Acura eliminated both of its cars, causing missed podium opportunities.
Surprisingly, the No. 6 car, driven by Nick Tandy and Mathieu Jaminet, captured its first victory on the streets of Long Beach, thanks to a daring strategy of using a single set of Michelins that remarkably worked. However, this indicated inefficiencies in tire management and poor pace, making it clear that it was a fortunate gamble rather than a true prowess.
Opportunities were missed at Laguna Seca and Watkins Glen, with a front-row lockout squandered and a potential on-track win invalidated due to excessive plank wear on the No. 6 car. After a disappointing performance at Mosport, where performance was nearly at the bottom of the grid, they moved on to Road America…
#7 Team Penske Porsche 963: Matt Campbell, Felipe Nasr
Photo by: Art Fleischmann
“Without a doubt, Road America in 2023 marked a pivotal moment, as everything began to come together,” states former F1 driver Felipe Nasr, who is currently leading the championship. “It was truly a weekend where we unlocked the car’s performance and showcased its true speed.”
At that time, Nasr shared the No. 7 with Matt Campbell, who has since transitioned to the World Endurance Championship for 2024.
“That victory was truly the breakthrough for the No. 7 crew,” Nasr adds. “If you review all the results since then, it’s clear that the 7 car has consistently been performing well and meeting objectives.”
Porsche’s director of LMDh factory racing, Urs Kuratle, describes it as a “very genuine victory” that propelled their successful series of races in America.
#7 Team Penske Porsche 963: Matt Campbell, Felipe Nasr
Photo by: Jake Galstad / Motorsport Images
“It felt like we were burdened with reliability issues along with performance and operational challenges,” admits Kuratle.
Reflecting post-victory, he recalls: “I remember a conversation where someone said, ‘Now we can finally start racing!’ I’m not dismissing the fact we haven’t encountered any issues since that point… but that seemed to capture the essence quite well: the burden was lifted.”
“However, we are not complacent; we must continuously strive for improvement.”
When asked about the crucial factors that have established the 963 as a leading contender, Kuratle responded, “I believe our strength lies in having a very robust package, starting with our drivers.”
“Including Road Atlanta, there has only been one race since Road America last year where at least one car has not made it to the podium. This consistency relies on a strong driver lineup, reliability in the car, and minimizing team errors. These are the key elements.”
“Relative to our competitors, I believe we possess the most competitive package in these areas, and while we are very pleased, we are still not 100% satisfied – if one can ever truly be satisfied. We are continually working on every detail to improve across all categories.”
#7 Team Penske Motorsport Porsche 963: Dane Cameron, Felipe Nasr, Matt Campbell, Josef Newgarden
Photo by: Bob Meyer
This year, the No. 7 car has achieved notable victories, including the Daytona 24 Hours and The Six Hours at The Glen, while the sister vehicle triumphed at Laguna Seca.
Cameron and Nasr entered this year’s Road America race leading with a substantial 93-point advantage over Cadillac Racing’s Sebastian Bourdais and Renger van der Zande, and are 132 points ahead of Tandy/Jaminet, who have been struggling since the disappointing results at Sebring.
Nasr highlights their recent victory at Watkins Glen, under heavy rain conditions, as a prime example of the team’s effectiveness under pressure.
“Reflecting on Watkins Glen, I believe it was a significant test of all elements involved,” Nasr stated. “It was a challenging race marked by unpredictable conditions, alternating between wet and dry.”
“Choosing the right tires and determining when to pit were critical decisions. Winning at Watkins Glen was not only remarkable but crucial for our championship standing.”
Insight from a Rival
Earlier last year, a rival driver’s thoughts on the 963’s performance would likely evoke expressions of discomfort and remarks about its “snappy” handling and difficulties in optimal tire performance.
Over its competitive lifespan, the 963 has greatly improved in this regard, achieving race victories with all three tire compounds from Michelin—soft, medium, and hard—as mandated for each event.
#7 Team Penske Motorsport Porsche 963: Dane Cameron, Felipe Nasr, #10 Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Acura ARX-06: Ricky Taylor, Filipe Albuquerque
Photo by: Michael L. Levitt / Motorsport Images
Acura’s Filipe Albuquerque spoke this week about how Michelin should place greater emphasis on utilizing its softer compounds to mitigate the risk of these hefty yet potent cars crashing on cold tires.
“I’d prefer to risk tire blisters than to see a car crash during the out lap,” he suggests. “While performance is stronger with harder compounds for stint lengths, the challenge lies in survival on cold tires.”
“With a softer compound, it’s simpler to apply energy on the out lap; however, there’s a trade-off in the long run. Ultimately, everyone is in the same boat.
“For instance, at Long Beach, we had the soft compound last year while it was medium then. That’s a significant change from the previous year. Furthermore, all drivers adapt accordingly, yet Porsche seems to be ahead in managing cold tires.”
#7 Team Penske Motorsport Porsche 963: Dane Cameron, Felipe Nasr
Photo by: Michael L. Levitt / Motorsport Images
While Porsche has improved in handling various tire compounds, challenges remained at high-energy tracks like Mosport and Road Atlanta, which will host the Petit Le Mans finale.
Currently, the Porsche 963 has established itself as the leader in the IMSA drivers’, teams’, and constructors’ championships with only three rounds left. Additionally, PPM is leading the WEC drivers’ and constructors’ titles too, with customer team JOTA also at the top of the standings…
