By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
The Auto Magazine
  • Home
  • Auto Shows
    Auto ShowsShow More
    LDV (Maxus as Known in China) Makes a Bold Statement at Shanghai Motor Show
    April 30, 2025
    Upcoming OMODA C3 redefines the crossover with cyber-mecha aesthetics
    April 29, 2025
    Mazda Unveils MAZDA EZ-60 New Electric SUV at Auto Shanghai 2025 
    April 29, 2025
    Chery unveils HIMLA brand at 2025 Shanghai Auto Show
    April 28, 2025
    World Champion to drive special Volkswagen Polo at Simola Hillclimb
    April 28, 2025
  • Bikes
    BikesShow More
    BMW Motorrad presents the new R 18 models
    January 22, 2025
    BMW Motorrad presents the BMW Concept F 450 GS
    November 5, 2024
    BMW Motorrad presents the new bikes
    November 1, 2024
    24YM HONDA NX500
    October 15, 2024
    BMW Motorrad presents the new BMW C 400 GT and BMW C 400 X
    October 15, 2024
  • News
    NewsShow More
    Action, adrenaline and lots of excitement at 15th Simola Hillclimb
    April 30, 2025
    Chery puts Tiggo 9 CSH flagship to the test in extreme safety demonstrations
    April 30, 2025
    SA Rugby Welcomes Hyundai as an Official Sponsor of Junior and Youth Week Rugby
    April 30, 2025
    Stellantis Reports Q1 2025 Net Revenues and Shipments
    April 30, 2025
    Aston Martin DBX S: A new flagship for the supercar of SUVs
    April 30, 2025
  • Concepts
    ConceptsShow More
    Audi unveils Q6 e-tron offroad concept
    January 28, 2025
    CITROEN PRESENTS C5 AIRCROSS CONCEPT
    October 15, 2024
    Lotus Unveils Theory 1:  The Future Of Intelligent Performance
    September 23, 2024
    First sketches of Škoda Enyaq RS Race
    May 3, 2024
    W16 Mistral: the art of bringing Bugatti’s ultimate roadster to life
    January 24, 2024
  • EVs
    EVsShow More
    Mazda Unveils MAZDA EZ-60 New Electric SUV at Auto Shanghai 2025 
    April 29, 2025
    RANGE ROVER ELECTRIC PROTOTYPES EXCEL IN LATEST WINTER TESTING AND DEVELOPMENT CYCLE
    April 25, 2025
    ELECTRIFIED LUXURY REDEFINED: THE ALL-NEW LEXUS ES
    April 24, 2025
    Volvo EX90 claims World Luxury Car title
    April 17, 2025
    DFSK South Africa rolls out EC35 Electric Panel Van
    April 15, 2025
  • Motosport
    MotosportShow More
    BROTHER LEADER TREAD KTM DOMINATES OPENING DOUBLE-HEADER OF THE NATIONAL ENDURO CHAMPIONSHIP
    April 30, 2025
    HIGHS AND LOWS FOR HUSQVARNA RACING AT NATIONAL ENDURO DOUBLE-HEADER
    April 30, 2025
    Ford is Ready to Tackle the Simola Hillclimb with Over 6 000 Horsepower
    April 30, 2025
    TOYOTA GAZOO RACING JUNIOR ACADEMY SHINES AT MIDWAY POINT OF NATIONAL ROTAX CAMPAIGN
    April 29, 2025
    Kgopotso ‘KJ’ Mononyane Scores Points in Opening Round of 2025 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup
    April 29, 2025
  • Trucks & Buses
    Trucks & BusesShow More
    Volvo reaches milestone with 5,000 electric trucks sold worldwide
    April 29, 2025
    HINO ONCE AGAIN ANSWERS FARMERS’ CALL FOR HELP
    April 24, 2025
    Daimler Truck Southern Africa appoints Wolf Edmayr as the General Manager of TruckStore
    March 28, 2025
    ISUZU Motors South Africa Celebrates 60 Years of Isuzu Trucks in South Africa
    March 3, 2025
    Itumeleng Segage, General Manager of Hino South Africa
    HINO SCORES MORE THAN 99% IN ALL FOUR CUSTOMER CARE SURVEY CATEGORIES
    February 5, 2025
  • Reviews
    ReviewsShow More
    Tow Like a Pro with the Ford Ranger
    April 10, 2025
    MEET THE ALL-NEW LEXUS GX: A PREMIUM OFF-ROADER REIMAGINED
    April 8, 2025
    Aston Martin Vanquish Volante: The world’s fastest, most powerful front-engine convertible
    March 29, 2025
    The legend grows: introducing the Toyota Hilux Hybrid 48v and GR SPORT II
    March 29, 2025
    THE ALL-NEW GWM P300 – BRING IT ON!
    March 3, 2025
  • Tech
    TechShow More
    Chery unveils AiMOGA: Revolutionising the car-buying experience through intelligent robotics
    April 24, 2025
    Volvo Cars uses AI and virtual worlds with the aim to create safer cars
    March 21, 2025
    Chery drives AI innovation with DeepSeek partnership
    March 3, 2025
    Stellantis Unveils STLA AutoDrive
    February 20, 2025
    Mercedes-Benz and Google Partner on AI-powered Conversational Search within Navigation Systems
    January 14, 2025
Hot News
BROTHER LEADER TREAD KTM DOMINATES OPENING DOUBLE-HEADER OF THE NATIONAL ENDURO CHAMPIONSHIP
HIGHS AND LOWS FOR HUSQVARNA RACING AT NATIONAL ENDURO DOUBLE-HEADER
Action, adrenaline and lots of excitement at 15th Simola Hillclimb
Chery puts Tiggo 9 CSH flagship to the test in extreme safety demonstrations
SA Rugby Welcomes Hyundai as an Official Sponsor of Junior and Youth Week Rugby
Latest News

Lamborghini is TopGear.com Manufacturer of the Year

Trucks & Buses

Electric and successful! MAN eBuses in the fast lane

Motosport

Porsche Penske Motorsport targets podium result in Japan

Latest News

Continental Tyre Testing Delivers Uncompromising Safety and Performance

Font ResizerAa
The Auto MagazineThe Auto Magazine
  • Home
  • Auto Shows
  • Bikes
  • News
  • Concepts
  • EVs
  • Motosport
  • Trucks & Buses
  • Reviews
  • Tech
Search
  • Home
  • Auto Shows
  • Bikes
  • News
  • Concepts
  • EVs
  • Motosport
  • Trucks & Buses
  • Reviews
  • Tech
Follow US
Crafted by Intellegere Media. © 2024 The Auto Magazine. All rights reserved.
Motosport

Porsche 963 returns to the stage of its maiden race win

Itumeleng Garebatshabe
Last updated: April 16, 2024 17:08
By Itumeleng Garebatshabe
39 Views
8 Min Read
Share
8 Min Read
SHARE
  • Porsche Penske Motorsport heads to Long Beach as the series leader
  • Street circuit regarded as the US equivalent to the Monaco Grand Prix track
  • Customer 963 from Proton Competition and JDC-Miller MotorSports compete
  • Three Porsche 911 GT3 R take on the GTD-class competition

Porsche Penske Motorsport is returning to the stage of its first race victory. This coming Saturday (20 April), the works team will race through the streets of Long Beach with two Porsche 963. In 2023, the German sports car brand’s new hybrid prototype achieved its maiden win on the spectacular street circuit. Porsche travels to round three of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season as the series leader. Thanks to its victory at the Daytona season opener and another podium result in Sebring, Porsche Penske Motorsport are joint leaders at the top of the manufacturers’ standings heading into the Long Beach race.

The Porsche Penske Motorsport team switches to sprint mode for round three of the season: After the 24-hour race in Daytona and the twelve-hour race in Sebring, Long Beach will host a short 100-minute sprint. Last year the IMSA team showed its full potential here. UK driver Nick Tandy and Mathieu Jaminet from France clinched the first race victory for the Porsche 963 thanks to a brilliant tactical masterstroke by the team. The outfit now aims to repeat this success next weekend.

“The race in Long Beach was a major milestone for us last year. The first victory with our new car, both vehicles on the podium – simply fantastic,” recalls Thomas Laudenbach. The Vice President Porsche Motorsport adds: “Our goal is to repeat such a success and defend our championship lead. After two real long-distance races, we’re now facing a short sprint on a spectacular street circuit. The conditions are completely different than at Daytona and Sebring, but we are perfectly prepared.”

“The streets of Long Beach are a special place for the Porsche Penske Motorsport team. It’s here that we took the first-ever win for the Porsche 963,” explains Jonathan Diuguid, Managing Director Porsche Penske Motorsport. “This is the first of the shorter format races and it will take perfect execution by the team and the drivers to repeat last year’s triumph. Our global team has been performing at a very high level in 2024, and we look forward to the next challenge.”

The race
The Long Beach Grand Prix Circuit hosts round three of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The 3.167-kilometre street circuit features eleven turns and is regarded as the American equivalent of the Monaco Grand Prix. The Long Beach Street Course runs in a clockwise direction around the Convention Center. Its special features include the sweeping start-finish straight along the Pacific coast and the sharp right-hander at the end of the lap.

Along with the Detroit Grand Prix in June, the sprint over 100 minutes is the shortest race of the year. The temporary circuit has served as a racetrack since 1975 and hosted Formula 1 eight times between 1976 and 1983. On the third weekend in April, the popular American IndyCar series will also be contested at Long Beach, in which Team Penske is represented with three cars.

Drivers’ comments ahead of the race
Mathieu Jaminet (Porsche 963 #6): “Since the end of last year, we’ve struck bad luck with our number 6 car – on the way to possible success, we were hampered by one thing or another at the 2023 season finale and in the first two races of this year. Let’s hope that changes. Twelve months ago we won in Long Beach thanks to first-class tactics. At that time we were down to the last tread on our tyres. This season we are competing with a new product from Michelin. Let’s see how the modified tyre will hold up in Long Beach. I’m really looking forward to the race and I’m determined to go home with as big a trophy as possible at the end.”

Dane Cameron (Porsche 963 #7): “After the two longest races of the year, now comes the shortest of the entire season. That’s always a bit of a shock on the IMSA calendar. I really like the special challenges that the Long Beach street circuit throws at us. In 2023 I was racing in the FIA WEC and so I missed this sprint – such a shame. The narrow circuit takes no prisoners when you make a mistake. If we get over the distance cleanly, we’ll hopefully have a chance of scoring our second win of the season.”

Gianmaria Bruni (Porsche 963 #5): “The last time I was in Long Beach was in 2010. Back then the racing series was still called the American Le Mans Series – that was a long time ago! At last, I get the chance to push the Porsche 963 to the limit on a street circuit. The track is steeped in tradition and simply wonderful. Driving a Le Mans prototype there will be truly spectacular. I need to prepare for the twisty course in the race simulator over the coming days. I’m very excited to see what we’ll achieve there.”

Richard Westbrook (Porsche 963 #85): “Long Beach is something completely different than the venues of the first two races of the season. But there are parallels when it comes to the setup: the track is about as bumpy as Sebring but a street circuit doesn’t have many direction changes. The race only lasts 100 minutes so it’s not a classic endurance event. Our GTP cars can drive around 55 minutes per stint so I expect it’ll be a classic one-stop race for everyone – it’s a shame really because this leaves little room for different strategies. Tyre durability is the focus. In Long Beach, I hope we can maintain the same good pace as in Sebring.”

An overview of the drivers and teams
GTP class (Porsche 963)
Proton Competition #5: Gianmaria Bruni (I) / Mike Rockenfeller (D)
Porsche Penske Motorsport #6: Mathieu Jaminet (F) / Nick Tandy (UK)
Porsche Penske Motorsport #7: Dane Cameron (USA) / Felipe Nasr (BR)
JDC-Miller MotorSports #85: Tijmen van der Helm (NL) / Richard Westbrook (UK)

GTD class (Porsche 911 GT3 R)
Andretti Motorsports #43: Jarett Andretti (USA) / Gabby Chaves (COL)
MDK Motorsports #86: Anders Fjordbach (DK) / Kerong Li (CHN)
Wright Motorsports #120: Adam Adelson (USA) / Elliott Skeer (USA)

The schedule (local time, CEST -9 hours)
Friday, 19 April
09:00 hrs – 10:00 hrs: Free practice 1
12:50 hrs – 14:20 hrs: Free practice 2
17:00 hrs – 17:15 hrs: Qualifying GTD class
17:25 hrs – 17:40 hrs: Qualifying GTP class

Saturday, 20 April
13:35 hrs – 15:15 hrs: Race

TAGGED:IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar ChampionshipLong BeachPorsche 963Porsche Penske Motorsport

Sign Up For Daily Newsletter

Stay Updated! Get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox.

By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Share This Article
Facebook Whatsapp Whatsapp LinkedIn VKontakte Telegram Email Copy Link Print
Share
ByItumeleng Garebatshabe
Editor
Follow:
Itumeleng is the Managing Editor of The Auto Magazine. He is a tech and car enthusiast

Follow US

FacebookLike
XFollow
InstagramFollow
YoutubeSubscribe
TiktokFollow
TelegramFollow
Google NewsFollow
LinkedInFollow

You Might Also Like

Motosport

Daytona winner Porsche targets next endurance race victory with the 963

By Itumeleng Garebatshabe
March 13, 2024
Motosport

Strong performance earns Porsche Penske Motorsport another podium spot

By Itumeleng Garebatshabe
April 21, 2024
Motosport

BMW M Team RLL finishes seventh and eighth in eventful Petit Le Mans

By Itumeleng Garebatshabe
October 17, 2023
Motosport

Lamborghini SC63 programme to make USA debut at the 12 Hours of Sebring

By Itumeleng Garebatshabe
March 16, 2024
Motosport

Porsche Penske Motorsport targets podium result in Japan

By Itumeleng Garebatshabe
September 6, 2023
Motosport

Porsche wraps up IMSA season second in manufacturers’ championship

By Itumeleng Garebatshabe
October 17, 2023

The Auto Magazine

  • Advertise
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookie Policy
  • Bikes
  • Electric Vehicles
  • Trucks & Buses
  • Auto Shows
  • Latest News
  • Motosport

Crafted by Intellegere Media. All rights reserved. 2024

Don't not sell my personal information
Join Us!
Subscribe to our newsletter and never miss our latest news, podcasts etc.

Zero spam, Unsubscribe at any time.
adbanner