Porsche Pairs Its 963 Racers with a Timeless Apple Computer Livery for Laguna Seca

Racing fans hold fond memories of one particular Porsche from decades ago. In the 1980 season a customer 935 K3 from Dick Barbour Racing hit the circuits wrapped in bright rainbow colors and the Apple Computer logo. That machine competed at major events including the 24 Hours of Le Mans and left a lasting impression wherever it appeared.

Porsche Penske Motorsport is bringing those same colors back to life on two factory 963 hybrid prototypes for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s fourth round. On May 3, they’ll line up at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca for a two-hour and forty-minute GTP sprint. The move honors both Porsche Motorsport’s 75th and Apple’s 50th birthdays, as well as their common history of pushing the envelope and coming up with innovative concepts.

Number six carries the livery for French driver Kévin Estre and Belgian Laurens Vanthoor. Number seven goes to Frenchman Julien Andlauer and Brazilian Felipe Nasr. The second car already leads the championship after scoring victories at the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring. Porsche itself sits atop the manufacturers’ standings heading into the weekend.

Laguna Seca is around 80 miles south of Apple Park, so the race’s location is ideal for this nostalgic tribute. The circuit has hosted numerous Porsche Rennsport Reunions over the years, including a one-two finish for the team last season. They had a two-day test session there in early April, which offered them new data to work with and allowed them to fine-tune the vehicles before the big weekend. Each 963 features a white main body with black carbon accents throughout. The rainbow stripes spread across the hood, fenders, side skirts, and rear wing in the same order as in 1980: green, yellow, orange, red, purple, and blue. The Apple Computer writing can also be seen on the nose and flanks of each automobile, as well as a bright Apple emblem on the roof. Every part is an exact replica of the design that initially appeared on a Porsche race vehicle in 1980.

These 963 prototypes adhere to LMDh rules, which means they have a powerful combustion engine with some electric hybrid assistance thrown in. That combination provides them with the power and fuel efficiency required to navigate Laguna Seca’s tight turns and elevation changes. Urs Kuratle, Porsche’s LMDh program head, believes the track will fit the car and the team perfectly considering how well they performed during the recent test.

Oliver Schusser, Vice President of Apple Music, Sports, and Beats, spoke extensively on Apple and Porsche’s long history, which began in 1980 with the appearance of the first Apple emblem on a Porsche. Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President of Porsche Motorsport, then spoke on how the two firms have been on parallel pathways of innovation since the early days of the 911 and the first Apple computers.