Porsche Penske Motorsport Primed for Le Mans After Successful Test Day

Porsche Penske Motorsport has successfully concluded its official test day for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with all three Porsche 963 hybrid prototypes completing a combined 194 laps. The intensive testing focused on refining setups and evaluating components, leaving the team confident and well-prepared for the upcoming race week at the Circuit des 24 Heures.

Porsche Penske Motorsport Gears Up for Le Mans with Successful Test Day

Porsche Penske Motorsport has completed a highly productive test day ahead of the 93rd edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The factory team's three Porsche 963 racers, along with customer teams Proton Competition and Manthey, utilized the intensive sessions to fine-tune their vehicles and gather crucial data.

Key Takeaways

• The three Porsche 963 hybrid prototypes completed a total of 194 laps, covering 2,643 kilometers.

• The team focused on evaluating different setup options and testing components, reporting a consistently balanced car.

• Customer teams Proton Competition (Hypercar) and Manthey (LMGT3) also reported positive results from their testing.

• Drivers provided positive feedback, with the team now analyzing data for further optimization.

Intensive Testing and Positive Feedback

Despite heavy rain on Saturday, Sunday's test day saw improved weather conditions, allowing Porsche Penske Motorsport to maximize both three-hour sessions. Urs Kuratle, Director of Factory Racing LMDh, stated, "It was a very productive test day, during which we ticked off a full to-do list with all three cars." He emphasized the value of the insights gained over mere lap times.

Jonathan Diuguid, Managing Director at Porsche Penske Motorsport, added, "We ran on Michelin’s medium tyres all day, in anticipation of warmer conditions next week. We wrapped up the day incident-free, and the drivers provided positive feedback." The team is now focused on data analysis to make further progress.

Driver Perspectives

Drivers expressed satisfaction with the test day's progress:

• Felipe Nasr (Porsche 963 #4): "We managed to get a lot done. We first ticked off tasks such as running in components like brakes and fitting body parts for the race. In the afternoon, we focused more on the setup and made good progress.

• Mathieu Jaminet (Porsche 963 #5): "The car ran without issues, which is a strong start. As expected, our Porsche felt good, but there’s still room to improve."

• Kévin Estre (Porsche 963 #6): "It was a good test day, and we completed almost everything we set out to do... We got the answers we needed, which gives us a solid foundation."

• Neel Jani (Porsche 963 #99): "Our 963 felt good throughout the test. We have a solid baseline, which is encouraging."

Looking Ahead to Race Week

There will be no on-track activity on Monday and Tuesday. Race week officially commences on Wednesday, June 11, with two free practice sessions and qualifying. The 24 Hours of Le Mans is scheduled to begin on Saturday, June 14, at 4 pm local time (CEST).