The most expensive Porsche model ever offered head off the production line asking for $2.9 million. This car is the Porsche 963, and it’s something spectacular.

The 963 is the first customer prototype built in more than ten years and its extremely expensive. This car is put together by Canadian racecar builder Multimatic, and it uses the LMP2-derived 963 chassis to give this car the build desired by racing teams around the world. Some sales are already inked for this new racing machine, but only a limited number of models are expected to be sold to independent racing teams.

Which Race Teams are Buying This Porsche?

This custom-built Porsche 963 is already heading to the Penske Motorsports team to give this team a pair of racing machines. These two models, along with any spare cars will make their debut in various places across different racing circuits. JDC-Miller Motorsports, a team out of Minnesota, is the first confirmed independent team to purchase a 963. This team will compete with a few other private outfits across IMSA and WEC with this car. Will this new Porsche make it to Victory Lane with a big name team or will an independent outfit cross that finish line first.

The High Price is Relatively Affordable

The price for a single model of this racing car sounds absurd, but it is actually pretty low for a purebred racing machine. This car is made to compete at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 12 Hours of Sebring, which makes it a car that race teams want to drive, unless they are developing their own chassis. Powered by a twin-turbocharged V8 hybrid powertrain, this car could be the next big deal on the racing circuits and we just might see it win at some of the most iconic events starting in 2023.

This Car Costs a Lot More than the Last Porsche Racer

This new Porsche 963 is much more expensive than the previous racer. That car was the 2007-2008 Porsche RS Spyder LMP2. Teams had to pay $1.5 million for that car at the time, which would be about $2.1 million in 2022 dollars. This new model is quite a bit more expensive, but it could enjoy some of the same success as the previous model. The RS Spyder model was used by six different private racing teams and the Penske team, which is ready for the new 963 to arrive.

The 963 Brings Everything a Racing Team Expects

We know from watching racing that teams have to change things out and make regular adjustments to the cars on the track. The $2.9 million price tag only offers a team the car, much like it would if a private consumer were buying a car to drive every day. Teams need to spend more to have spare engines, transmission, extra bodywork, and all of the consumables needed to run and maintain the car all season long. This car does come with technical support from Porsche Motorsport, which is saying something.

What Does the Support Offer?

Its not just technical support with a call center that tosses you around various recordings that Porsche offers. The support for the new Porsche 963 includes on-site spare parts, an engineering truck, and several engineers. These are the things that teams typically need at races and Porsche offers this service as part of the included package that makes this race car one that teams will love to drive. This is the best way this brand knows to offer the highest level of quality for the cars wearing the Porsche name out on the track.

The Car is Just the Beginning of Racing Costs

Currently, there are ten races in the IMSA series, which can cost a team as much as $4.5 million on top of the car. The 2023 season also brings in extra costs with the first-time use of a mandatory energy recovery system. This requirement includes a need to lease ERS units and pay for the support for these systems. This additional requirement could add as much as another $1 million to the price for the racing season. This is certainly not a sport for those that pinch pennies.

Porsche Helps Racing Teams Prepare for the Race

In addition to the impressive car that is the Porsche 963, and the support offered at the track, racing teams with this car have a direct link to the Porsche factory and engineering information that can help them with each race. This link can help a team understand the optimal chassis setup for the driver and the track they face each week. This means an independent team like JDC-Miller could be close to the PPM factory team when we see the time sheets after practice rounds.

Will We See Some of These Porsche Models Leading Races?

The Porsche brand is a heritage name in racing and motorsports. It would be embarrassing for this brand to go an entire season without winning a race. We can expect some of these 963 models to cross the finish line ahead of other brands, but most of those automakers also have a strong history on the rack and will not want to be bested by Porsche. This new addition to the IMSA racing circuit, along with the support offered, could give teams running this car a distinct advantage out on the tarmac.

Will Multiple Teams Under One Name Share All the Same Information?

This mostly applies to Penske, which will act as expected. During a race, the Penske drivers will likely work together to get to the front and stay there. As the races come to a close, if these drivers are in the lead, it will be up to them to figure out how to win over their teammates. A Penske 1-2-3 finish is certainly a dream for this racing company and could be a likely result if these Porsche cars perform as advertised.

We won’t know how good they are until the Rolex 24 At Daytona in January. Mark your calendar, its going to be an exciting racing day.