24h Le Mans
Porsche currently holds the record for most Le Mans wins at 19, ahead of Audi (13) and Ferrari (10). This extraordinary legacy, stretching from the first victory in 1970 to the most recent in 2017 (the #2 Porsche 919 Hybrid of Timo Bernhard/Earl Bamber/Brendon Hartley) bears witness to the German marque's loyalty to the 24 Hours as well as its undeniable consistency across decades. Is a coveted 20th win in the cards this Sunday?
During the intense duel between Ferrari and Toyota at last year's Centenary, Porsche found it difficult to keep up. The three official 963s had a tough go of it with the #5 finishing in 17th place ahead of the #6 in 22nd and the #75 forced to retire. JOTA's private 963, in only its second race, was the last to make it to the chequered flag, in 40th place.
The results were disappointing and certainly not at the level of the German marque's reputation. Recurring problems with the cooling system in particular explained this first failed attempt by the LMDh from Flacht (the location of the Porsche Motorsport Centre in Germany). But, 12 months later, everything has changed. All indications point to the 963s as major contenders at the 2024 24 Hours thanks to their performances so far and the fact the drivers are much more confident than in 2023.
Porsche has been the one to beat since the beginning of the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship season. Kévin Estre/André Lotterer/Laurens Vanthoor in the #6 963 followed their win at the Qatar 1812 km with two second place finishes at Imola and Spa-Francorchamps, and are now leading the FIA Endurance Drivers and Manufacturers Championships! In the U.S., Matt Campbell/Josef Newgarden/Dane Cameron/Felipe Nasr took the Rolex 24 at Daytona by storm in January, and Cameron and Nasr, as well as Porsche, are currently leading the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
If an official car fails to win, a private 963 picks up the mantle! Hertz Team JOTA's #12 driven by Will Stevens/Callum Ilott won the 2024 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, the final rehearsal before Le Mans. Proton Competition's #99 shared by Neel Jani/Julien Andlauer is consistently a contender, securing a "double threat" of official and private entrants with a total of six 963s set to take the start in and potentially win the 24 Hours.
Not only has the Porsche 963 disrupted the Toyota GR010 Hybrid's string of wins in the FIA WEC (the Japanese cars won every race last year except Le Mans), but the German Hypercar is also fully capable of maintaining dominance across 24 hours.
So, what's the secret? How did Porsche achieve such reliability and performance level? The #4 driver Mathieu Jaminet: We've improved certain elements little by little, race after race. We struggle less with the car than before. There were quite a few 963 incidents last year because the car was walking a tightrope the entire time. We've made progress in every area. The #5 driver Frédéric Makowiecki: The balance of the car is more linear and predictable. When the car is unstable (like throughout the 2023 season, Ed.), you try to correct it, and that hinders performance. On the other hand, when the balance is in check, you can go after more speed.
No marque is claiming to be an automatic successor to the throne, including Toyota (the first constructor to win the Hypercar category), Ferrari (the defending winner) and even Porsche. As we all know, Le Mans chooses its winner, not the other way around.
Michael Christensen: I wouldn't say we're the favourites. Since the start of the season, we've done reasonably well. With the #6, they are consistent and they manage to get some results. With the #5, we've been a little more unlucky. But, everything is different at Le Mans. There are long straights and very high speeds. I think we need to look at what happened last year to see how it compares, rather than looking at the start of the season.
The two 963s finished on top at Test Day, with Estre clocking the fastest lap in 03:26.907. Kévin Estre: Our car ran like a dream from the very first lap and I immediately had a great feeling.
The focus is obvious watching the mechanics, technicians and engineers in the Porsche garages, as is the serious approach of the drivers within its ranks, whether representing the official team or private outfits.
The start of the 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans will be given on Saturday 15 June at 16:00 local time (GMT+2). The battle of the Hypercar manufacturers will serve as the theme for the 24 Hours of Le Mans Show kicking off at 23:30. The duo, Synapson, is set to wow the crowd with its special blend of sound and immersive lighting, pyrotechnics, drones and video.
