Vettel set for Porsche Penske 963 hypercar test!

©Porsche

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Retired F1 driver Sebastian Vettel will test a Porsche 963 hyper car with the Penske team next week in Spain.

Vettel’s test has been organized as part of Penske’s preparations for Le Mans which includes a 36-hour endurance programme at MotorLand Aragon

The four-time F1 World Champion has already sampled the WEC winning car at Porsche’s Weissach development track, having also undergone multiple hours of simulator testing with the manufacturer.

“I’m looking forward to testing the Porsche 963. I already got the chance to get a feel for the car during a rollout in Weissach,” said Vettel.

“I’ve always followed other racing series and my curiosity for endurance events encouraged me to just give it a shot. Now I’m excited about the long run in Aragon and I’m looking forward to my time behind the wheel.

"It’ll definitely take an adjustment and some getting used to, but everyone in the team is very open and helps me. This will be a new experience for me."

Read also: Rosberg and Vettel 'not in the running' for Mercedes seat

According to Porsche Motorsport vice president Thomas Laudenbach, Vettel inquired about a potential test run in the car and Porsche duly organized a test outing.

“We’re delighted that Sebastian Vettel is interested in our Porsche 963,” explained Laudenbach.

“There was no question for us that we’d be thrilled to support his request for an opportunity to test and provide him with extensive preparation and plenty of time to drive our hybrid prototype."

©Porsche

Last year, Vettel was reportedly offered a chance to join British endurance team Jota Sport’s WEC line-up along with fellow F1 world champion Jenson Button, but that opportunity, if it existed, never came to fruition.

Vettel clarified that for now, his upcoming test with Porsche Penske Motorsport is a one-off.

“This will be a new experience for me,” commented Vettel.

“We will see what happens next in this respect – at the moment there are no further plans for the future.”

In Spain, as Porsche Penske aims to secure its 20^th outright win at Le Mans, Vettel will join works drivers Matt Campbell, Michael Christensen, Frédéric Makowiecki, Kévin Estre, André Lotterer and Laurens Vanthoor.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.