Porsche racing history · 2023–

Porsche 963: LMDh Specs, Daytona Wins & Titles

By CarWhere Research · Updated

The Porsche 963 is Porsche's LMDh hybrid prototype, raced by Porsche Penske Motorsport since the 24 Hours of Daytona in January 2023. It pairs a 4.6-liter twin-turbo V8 with a spec hybrid system, won Daytona three years running (2024–2026), took the 2024 WEC drivers' title, and swept the IMSA titles in 2024 and 2025.

The 963 is the car Porsche built to return to the top class of endurance racing. Porsche announced the program in December 2020, after the FIA and IMSA agreed on a shared LMDh rule set that lets one car race at both Le Mans and Daytona. Porsche formed Porsche Penske Motorsport with Team Penske in 2021, picked Multimatic to supply the LMP2-based chassis, and rolled the first car out at Weissach in January 2022. Two works cars started the 2023 Daytona 24 Hours.

Its engine is a twin-turbo version of the 4.6-liter V8 from the 918 Spyder, whose roots go back to the RS Spyder of the 2000s. Bosch supplies the motor-generator, Williams Advanced Engineering the 1.35 kWh battery, and Xtrac the standard gearbox. After a difficult first season, the 963 won the 2024 Daytona 24 Hours, then won it again in 2025 and 2026. Porsche ended its factory WEC Hypercar effort after 2025 but kept the IMSA program.

963 history, year by year

  1. 2020 — On December 16, Porsche announces it will return to the top classes of the WEC and IMSA under the new LMDh rules.[1]
  2. 2021 — In May, Porsche teams up with Team Penske to form the global works team Porsche Penske Motorsport. Multimatic is chosen as chassis partner.[1]
  3. 2022 — The first 963 rolls out at Weissach in January, followed by more than 30,000 test kilometers.[1]
  4. 2023 — Race debut at the 24 Hours of Daytona (January 28–29). The first IMSA win follows at Long Beach, the season's third race.[1],[2]
  5. 2024 — The No. 7 car wins the 24 Hours of Daytona, Porsche's 19th overall win there. The No. 6 crew wins the WEC drivers' title, and Porsche takes all six IMSA titles: seven of eight possible titles in total.[1],[3],[4]
  6. 2025 — A second straight Daytona win (Porsche's 20th) and second place at Le Mans. Porsche defends every IMSA title. On October 7, Porsche announces it will end its factory WEC Hypercar program after the season.[5],[6],[7],[8]
  7. 2026 — A third straight Daytona 24 Hours win, by 1.569 seconds, brings Porsche's record total at the race to 21.[9]

Porsche 963 specs

Key Porsche 963 specifications as published by the cited sources.
Engine9RD 90° V8, twin-turbocharged (Van der Lee turbos), derived from the 918 Spyder V8[2],[10]
Displacement4,593 cc (4.6 L); bore × stroke 96 × 81 mm[10]
PowerEngine rated at over 515 kW (700 PS); about 500 kW (680 PS) in race trim. Rules cap output at 520 kW (707 PS).[2]
Hybrid systemBosch motor-generator unit at the rear axle; 1.35 kWh Williams Advanced Engineering battery; up to 800 V[2]
TransmissionStandard Xtrac gearbox[2]
Minimum weight1,030 kg[10]
Dimensions5,100 / 2,000 / 1,060 mm (L/W/H); 3,148 mm wheelbase[10]
Top speedOver 330 km/h (about 205 mph, converted)[10]
ChassisLMP2-based chassis supplied by Multimatic (Toronto, Canada)[2]
Race debut24 Hours of Daytona, January 28–29, 2023[2]

963 race results and wins

Selected Porsche 963 results.
YearEventResultCar / drivers
2023Grand Prix of Long Beach (IMSA)1st overall (first win)[1]963
202424 Hours of Daytona1st overall[3]963 #7 — Dane Cameron / Felipe Nasr / Matt Campbell / Josef Newgarden
2024IMSA GTP drivers' championshipChampions[11]963 #7 — Dane Cameron / Felipe Nasr
2024FIA WEC drivers' championshipChampions[4]963 #6 — Kévin Estre / André Lotterer / Laurens Vanthoor
202424 Hours of Le Mans4th overall[6]963 #6 — Kévin Estre / André Lotterer / Laurens Vanthoor
202524 Hours of Daytona1st overall[5]963 #7 — Felipe Nasr / Nick Tandy / Laurens Vanthoor
202524 Hours of Le Mans2nd overall[6]963 #6 — Kévin Estre / Laurens Vanthoor / Matt Campbell
2025IMSA GTP drivers' championshipChampions[7]963 — Matt Campbell / Mathieu Jaminet
202624 Hours of Daytona1st overall[9]963 #7 — Felipe Nasr / Julien Andlauer / Laurin Heinrich

What made the 963 significant

  • It brought Porsche back to the top class at Le Mans and Daytona under one rule set. LMDh lets the same car race in both the WEC and IMSA.[1]
  • In 2024, its second season, the 963 won seven of the eight titles available to Porsche across the WEC and IMSA. Porsche missed the WEC manufacturers' title by two points.[1]
  • Porsche says it was the first manufacturer of the GTP era to win Daytona three years in a row (2024–2026).[9]
  • Its engine links three generations of Porsche prototypes and supercars. The V8 grew out of the RS Spyder racing engine and the 918 Spyder road car, and Porsche says about 80 percent of the 918's engine components carry over.[10]
  • Porsche's Le Mans record still stands at 19 overall wins. The 963's best finish there is second place in 2025.[6],[12]

The 963 and Porsche's road cars

The Porsche 963 was built to race. For the road cars that share its engineering, history and factory records, start here:

Porsche 963 FAQ

What engine does the Porsche 963 use?

It uses a 4,593 cc (4.6-liter) 90-degree twin-turbo V8 called the 9RD, developed from the 918 Spyder's V8. It works with a Bosch motor-generator and a 1.35 kWh battery. Porsche quotes about 500 kW (680 PS) in race trim, and the rules cap output at 520 kW.

Has the Porsche 963 won Le Mans?

No. Its best Le Mans result is second overall, in 2025, with Kévin Estre, Laurens Vanthoor and Matt Campbell. Porsche's 19 overall Le Mans wins all came with earlier cars, the last in 2017 with the 919 Hybrid.

How many times has the 963 won the 24 Hours of Daytona?

Three times in a row: 2024, 2025 and 2026, each time with the No. 7 Porsche Penske Motorsport car. The 2026 win brought Porsche's total of overall Daytona wins to 21.

What championships has the Porsche 963 won?

In 2024, Kévin Estre, André Lotterer and Laurens Vanthoor won the WEC drivers' title, and Porsche won every IMSA title. In 2025, Porsche defended all of its IMSA titles, with Matt Campbell and Mathieu Jaminet as GTP drivers' champions.

Does Porsche still race the 963 in the WEC?

Porsche ended its factory WEC Hypercar program after the 2025 season, and customer support for the 963 continues. The factory IMSA program with Penske continues in 2026.

Related Porsche race cars and specials

Porsche history, specs and production research

Sources

Dates, production counts, specifications and results on this page come from the sources below. Where sources disagree, the page says so or uses Porsche's own figure.

  1. The success story of the Porsche 963 — Porsche Newsroom
  2. The technology of the new Porsche 963 hypercar/GTP prototype in detail — Porsche Newsroom USA
  3. Porsche 963 of Porsche Penske Motorsport victorious after gripping 24 Hours of Daytona — Porsche Newsroom USA
  4. Porsche works drivers win the FIA World Endurance Championship — Porsche Newsroom
  5. Porsche Penske Motorsport takes 24-hour race win at Daytona — Porsche Newsroom USA
  6. PORSCHE PENSKE MOTORSPORT - Prize list & statistics — 24h-lemans.com (ACO)
  7. Porsche defends all titles in the 2025 IMSA Championship — Porsche Newsroom
  8. Porsche Pulls Plug on Factory Hypercar Program — Sportscar365 (secondary reference)
  9. Another victory for Porsche Penske Motorsport at the 24 Hours of Daytona — Porsche Newsroom
  10. The Porsche 963 banks on powerful DNA from RS Spyder and 918 Spyder — Porsche Newsroom
  11. A spectacular year: Reviewing the 2024 Porsche motorsport season — Porsche Motorsport
  12. Porsche aims for 20th Le Mans victory — Porsche Newsroom

Independent reference published by CarWhere — not affiliated with or endorsed by Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG. Porsche, 911, Carrera and Speedster are trademarks of their owner.