Vettel in first Porsche 963 outing ahead of WEC test

Sebastian Vettel has tested a Porsche 963 for the first time for Porsche Penske Motorsport.

The four-time Formula 1 World Champion retired from Grand Prix racing at the end of the 2022 season, and held talks with the Jota Porsche team in mid-2023 about a possible return to racing in 2024 in the new LMDh Hypercar category.

The German had already spent extensive time in the simulator ahead of his outing at Aragon in Spain next week, but took to the track for the first time at the Porsche R&D centre in Weissach.

Vettel first drove the 963 on March 21st after an intensive week of meetings and simulator sessions, with the test in Spain coming next week with Vettel being joined by Matt Campbell , Michael Christensen, Frédéric Makowiecki, Kévin Estre, André Lotterer, and Laurens Vanthoor for a 36-hour test to prepare for Le Mans.

"I’m looking forward to testing the Porsche 963. I already got the chance to get a feel for the car during a rollout in Weissach. I’ve always followed other racing series and my curiosity for endurance events encouraged me to just give it a shot," said Vettel.

"Now I’m excited about the long run in Aragon and I’m looking forward to my time behind the wheel. It’ll definitely take an adjustment and some getting used to but everyone in the team is very open and helps me.

"This will be a new experience for me. We will then see what happens next in this respect – at the moment there are no further plans for the future."