Four-time Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel completed his first run in a contemporary Hypercar on Tuesday, taking part in a successful test in a Porsche Penske 963 Hypercar at Motorland Aragon in Spain.
The former F1 star tested the car after an extensive sim session at the Porsche Penske Mannheim facility in Germany and a brief shakedown at the Weissach Development Centre last week.
In Spain, he completed 118 laps of the Spanish circuit and 581 kilometres across two fault-free double stints, The test, which is ongoing, is an endurance run for Porsche as part of its pre-Le Mans preparations. The running took place in the dry with tarmac temperatures between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius.
While there is no official news regarding a future WEC or IMSA drive with Porsche for Vettel, th is test is a clear indication that the German ace is interested in a future sportscar program. Vettel has long been known to hold an interest in the Le Mans 24 Hours and was understood by RACER to have been engaged in talks with Porsche to sample the 963 prior to the 2024 Rolex 24 Hours in January.
“Of course, I also keep an eye on other motorsport disciplines and know many drivers who are active in the WEC and Le Mans. At some point, my curiosity was so great that I had the idea of trying it out myself. Porsche gave me the opportunity to test a current Hypercar with the 963,” Vettel said.
“After the seat adjustment, the simulator session and the roll-out in Weissach, I already had a good feeling. Driving the Porsche 963 on the track here in Aragon – that was definitely fun. I first had to get used to everything and find my rhythm. The driving experience is different simply because of the roof over your head, as well as dealing with the higher weight and the tires.