Porsche is looking to introduce a significant update to the 963’s front suspension ahead of the 2025 FIA WEC and IMSA seasons. If given the green light by the rule-makers, this will be the car’s second Evo ‘Joker’ evolution after it introduced minor sensor updates ahead of the 2024 Rolex 24 Hours back in January.
Urs Kuratle, Porsche’s factory LMDh racing boss, explained to DSC that the changes are in the process of being signed off ahead of the IMSA Sanctioned Test later this month at Daytona.
“We have wishes, we handed in our wishes to the governing bodies – IMSA and the ACO – and once we get it approved we will introduce the changes to the front-suspension parts for the test at Daytona at the end of the month,” he said.
The updates to the suspension, Kuratle believes, should have an impact at a variety of circuits next year, handing the teams running the 963 more flexibility with set-up.
“This is an area that the engineers and drivers gave feedback on, we thought it was a route to explore. It will give us more adjustments to the suspension. Throughout the year it will help us, it will make the 963 a more equal car at every track,” he added.
“Testing (at Paul Ricard and on the dyno) with it has been positive, and once we were sure we handed in the paperwork. We are just waiting for it to be approved so we can start producing parts and distributing them. We need to be ready for the race at Daytona (next January), getting the cars equipped and with relevant spares.
“We have to be careful because you only have so many ‘Jokers’ you can make. It has to make sense, and it has to make sense in the rules. But we are confident it’ll make the car better.”
This news comes after Porsche previously shelved its plans to update the 963 with a new 90-degree crankshaft earlier in the year to counteract vibration issues with the car.
“It’s (about saving) tokens but to be really honest, it’s even more the money,” Kuratle explained to DSC back in June when asked why the new crank would not be introduced. “If we would have to change the crankshaft for a good reason it will cost us a lot of money because we will have to update the customer cars (at the same time) as well.
“But the reliability of the 963 has improved a lot and it (vibrations) doesn’t seem to be an issue any more.”
