Porsche's Sebring throwback
Porsche Penske will run its 963 prototypes at the 12 Hours of Sebring in a throwback livery inspired by the '90s 911 GT1 — special blue, red and white liveries mark 30 years of collaboration with ExxonMobil and arrive for the March 21 endurance classic. The scheme is a direct visual tribute intended for the IMSA/12‑hour spotlight. (roadandtrack.com) (newsroom.porsche.com)
The two factory 963s will run with distinct accents: the No. 6 driven by Laurens Vanthoor, Kévin Estre and Matt Campbell carries blue windshield and rear-deck details, while the No. 7 driven by Felipe Nasr, Julien Andlauer and Laurin Heinrich wears red accents. (sportscar365.com: ) Porsche traces the formal start of its Mobil 1 relationship to June 14, 1996, the day a multi‑year agreement was signed that included factory lubricant fill for all new Porsche cars worldwide. (newsroom.porsche.com: ) That 1996 Le Mans effort produced two factory 911 GT1s finishing second and third, and the later 911 GT1‑98 (car No. 26) with Allan McNish, Stéphane Ortelli and Laurent Aïello ultimately won Le Mans in 1998. (racer.com: ) Porsche’s statement ties Mobil 1’s technical role to later prototype programs—Mobil 1-supported developments on the RS Spyder and Porsche 919 Hybrid contributed to six world championship titles and three overall Le Mans victories between 2014–2017. (newsroom.porsche.com: ) Porsche and Penske say both 963s also carry commemorative decals marking the 30‑year Mobil 1 partnership and Porsche Motorsport’s 75th anniversary. (racer.com: ) The liveries were revealed on-site as IMSA teams unloaded in the paddock, and the event this weekend doubles as a milestone moment for Team Penske’s 60th anniversary with Roger Penske named Grand Marshal for the race. (sportscar365.com: ) (sebringraceway.com: )
