Porsche 963: the mysterious announcement from the German manufacturer
In a video on its social networks, Porsche teased the public by paying tribute to the road-going version of the 917, before revealing a date: June 2025.
Porsche continues its nods to history. After paying tribute to Dickie Attwood, the man who gave the Stuttgart brand its first victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the company released a video in honor of the 917.
This racing car was entrusted, among others, to the Briton in 1970 when he crossed the finish line as the winner that year. Then he won the classic again the following year. But one of the units of this racing car was allowed to be driven on the road. It was able to be approved. That was half a century ago.
To celebrate this moment, Porsche has prepared a video of about forty seconds with various shots of the 917 before adding an enigmatic message. « What if? ». Understand: « Et si? ».
An announcement at the 24 Hours of Le Mans?
A little later in the same video, a date can be seen: June 2025. Then the curves of a car quite familiar to motorsport enthusiasts: the Porsche 963 currently competing in the World Endurance Championship. This one features some different characteristics, especially on the rear line.
The most intriguing part remains the phrase posted in the description of the publication: « It is important to note that, even if his descendant is successful on the track today, the spirit and desire that led to the creation of a street-legal 917 so long ago are still very much alive five decades later, which raises the question: What if? »
What if this famous “What if?” led to the production of a road-legal 963? This is, in any case, what the Stuttgart brand suggests in this clip. With an announcement in June, it seems even more likely. Porsche has a long and successful relationship with Le Mans, a race that traditionally takes place… in June.
In the event that Porsche were to produce a derivative of its racing version, it would not be the first manufacturer of the modern era to do such a thing. As a reminder, Ferrari produced the 499P Modificata, a modified version of the WEC 499P that the public can purchase to drive exclusively on the track.
