It’s a Hertz car - but this one isn’t available to rent. This is the Hertz Team JOTA Porsche 963. One of the most advanced race cars in the world, and the one Hertz aims to take to ultimate victory in the World Endurance Championship (WEC)
The car made its debut in the third race of the season, the 6 Hours of Spa, Belgium. By the end of the season finale in Bahrain, it'll have covered some serious miles. But what is it, how fast is it, and how does it work? Find out in this guide:
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The Porsche 963 is the legendary manufacturer’s latest hypercar prototype for endurance racing in the LMDh (Le Mans Daytona Hybrid) category. Now partnered with Hertz Team JOTA, it’s ready to be raced across WEC circuits worldwide.
Top speed: 205 mph
Engine: 4.6-liter, twin-turbo V8 hybrid
Power: 515 kW (700 PS)
Transmission: 7-speed sequential race gearbox
Suspension: Double wishbone, pushrod suspension
Weight: 2,271 lb (1,030 kg), without fuel and driver
The Porsche 963 is competing in the 2023 World Endurance Championship (WEC) with Hertz Team JOTA. The first WEC race the highly tuned hypercar featured in was the 6 Hours of Spa, Belgium (29 April 2023). Later races will see this spectacular machine cross continents, from Le Mans in France to race in the shadow of Mount Fuji, Japan.
Read on to learn more about this powerful track specialist's spec and what inspired Porsche to build it. But first, we’ll clarify what type of endurance racing class this car will compete in.
Porsche has styled the vehicle to reflect its past victories and rich racing traditions. The continuous illuminated strip on the back of the vehicle reflects the current 992 and 911 models, while the front is reminiscent of 956 cars from the 1980s. Along with the white, red and black liveries, all these design elements pay homage to Porsche’s winning race cars of old.
The Porsche 963 engine is the heart and soul of the vehicle and its driving force. Inspired by the LMP2 category and Porsche’s iconic motorsport power, it produces 515 kW from a 4.6-liter, twin turbo V8 hybrid system.
Team JOTA’s title sponsor is Hertz, one of the world's largest car rental companies. Together, they’re focused on bringing over 100 years of racing heritage into the modern era.
Founded in 2000, Team JOTA is one of the most experienced and successful British endurance racing teams in recent history. The team has competed in nine racing series across endurance and GT World Challenge racing and boasts 10 podium finishes in LMP2 at Le Mans.
Now working with Hertz and Porsche, Team JOTA has Antonio Felix da Costa, Yefie Ye and Will Stevens competing for the 2023 WEC racing season.
Porsche is an icon of motorsport and motoring. Racing in the endurance category since 1966, the marque has a long history of great performance. From humble origins making agricultural tractors to winning 19 Le Mans races – the most by any manufacturer – Porsche has proven the quality of its engineering time and again. Now it brings the innovative power of the new hybrid 963 to partner with Team JOTA and Hertz for 2023 WEC LMDh racing.
Team JOTA has partnered with football legend Tom Brady’s next-generation apparel brand BRADY™ for the development of Team JOTA’s apparel and clothing. The range is built on two decades of pro-sports-level innovation and design.
The team behind the design and liveries, Singer Group is known for its custom restoration and modification work on 964-chassis Porsche 911s (1989-1994). Singer’s design for the Team JOTA cars was inspired by the legendary Porsche drivers of the 1970s and 80s, Derek Bell, Hurley Haywood and Jacky Ickx.
The WEC calendar crosses oceans and continents. Team JOTA made its debut at the 6 Hours of Spa in April. But if you want to see them race, these are the dates put on your calendar:
Interested in more insights about Team JOTA and Hertz’s partnership with it in the world of endurance racing? Follow Hertz and Hertz Racing Gold on Instagram.
