Porsche celebrates 75 years of motorsport with retro Apple-style 963 race cars
To mark the 75th anniversary of Porsche Motorsport and the 50th anniversary of Apple, the German automaker has unveiled a pair of specially designed 963 race cars for this weekend’s IMSA round at Laguna Seca. Seasoned motorsport fans will immediately recognize the design.
The cars fielded by the factory Porsche Motorsport team pay homage to the 935 model that competed in the 1980 season in Apple Computer’s vivid colors. Over the decades, Porsche has had many memorable racing liveries, but this one is undoubtedly among the most iconic.
Like that car, which featured stripes in green, yellow, orange, red, purple, and blue, the 963 cars heading to Laguna Seca sport the same palette, though orange has been replaced with a second shade of red. The classic Apple Computer lettering also appears on the front and along the side sills of the LMDh hypercar.
Drivers and championship standings
Behind the wheel of Porsche No. 6 935 will be Kevin Estre and Laurens Vanthoor, while car No. 7 will be piloted by Julien Andlauer and Felipe Nasr. Porsche currently sits first in the manufacturers’ standings, having secured wins at the January “24 Hours of Daytona” and the March “12 Hours of Sebring.” Last year, the team achieved a one-two finish at Laguna Seca.
Stuttgart meets California
“What began with the debut of the Porsche 911 at the 1963 International Motor Show is mirrored in Apple Computer: both are icons symbolizing innovation and the constant evolution of experts from Zuffenhausen, Weissach, and Cupertino,” said Porsche Motorsport Vice President Thomas Laudenbach. “This is especially true of Porsche Motorsport, where innovations have been created under the highest competitive demands since 1951.”
Rexy the dinosaur and other participants
The factory Porsche Motorsport team will also field a 911 GT3 R in the GTD Pro class and another 911 GT3 R in the GTD class over the weekend. The GTD Pro car features a green-and-white dinosaur-inspired livery affectionately called “Rexy.”
This weekend at Laguna Seca promises to be a true celebration for motorsport fans and technology history enthusiasts. The combination of Porsche’s iconic 935 design from the 1980s with Apple’s symbolism creates a powerful narrative about innovation transcending a single industry. Interestingly, both companies, each in their own field, have become symbols of quality and advanced development, and this joint livery underscores their shared philosophy. The return of the Apple logo to a Porsche after nearly half a century is not just a tribute to the past but also a powerful marketing move that recalls the close connection between automotive and computer engineering, where both companies have always strived for excellence and unique design.