When Porsche Penske Motorsport launched the 963 LMDh programme, the expectation was a swift return to the top step at Circuit de la Sarthe. In June 2024 the No. 6 entry delivered pole position — the first Le Mans pole for the 963 — before spending 24 hours fighting through the Hypercar field. IXO Models has translated that specific car, crew and result into a die-cast 1:18 scale model that carries the full Porsche Penske works livery.
The Porsche 963 LMDh: Porsche's Return to Factory Hypercar Racing
The Porsche 963 is built around a Multimatic-supplied LMDh chassis paired with a Porsche-developed 4.6-litre twin-turbocharged V8 and the shared LMDh hybrid unit, producing approximately 500 bhp combined. The platform competes in both the GTP class of IMSA WeatherTech and the Hypercar class of the FIA World Endurance Championship, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Its arrival marked Porsche's return to top-class factory prototype racing following the 919 Hybrid LMP1 programme that concluded in 2017.
Pole, Pressure and Fourth Place: Le Mans 2024
On 12 June 2024, Kevin Estre put the No. 6 Porsche 963 on pole position for the 24 Hours of Le Mans — a meaningful result for Porsche Penske Motorsport's WEC campaign. The race itself, run on 15–16 June 2024 at Circuit de la Sarthe, ended with the car classified fourth in the Hypercar class, the overall victory going to the Ferrari 499P No. 50 of Fuoco, Molina and Nielsen. The driver trio assembled for that effort was formidable: Kevin Estre, a multiple Porsche Supercup champion; André Lotterer, a three-time Le Mans winner with Audi; and Laurens Vanthoor, a Belgian factory driver with extensive WEC and IMSA mileage. Few 2024 Hypercar entries matched that combined experience.
IXO Models: Die-Cast at 1:18 Scale
IXO Models produces this replica as a die-cast 1:18 scale model car, a format that gives the complex Porsche Penske Motorsport white-and-red works livery the surface area it needs to read correctly. The graphics package — including sponsor markings, Porsche wordmarks and the No. 6 race identification — is reproduced across the long LMDh bodywork. IXO's 1:18 die-cast range is well established in the WEC and endurance prototype segment, making this a consistent choice for collectors already familiar with the manufacturer's output.
In the Display Cabinet: Building a 2024 Le Mans Hypercar Shelf
The No. 6 pairs naturally with its sister No. 5 Porsche 963 (Matt Campbell, Frédéric Makowiecki, Michael Christensen) to recreate the full Porsche Penske WEC factory effort from that weekend. A Ferrari 499P No. 50 alongside it completes the 2024 Le Mans top-three Hypercar narrative. Collectors focused on the LMDh era will also find the 963 a logical successor piece to 1:18 replicas of the Porsche 919 Hybrid from 2015–2017, connecting two distinct chapters of Porsche's Le Mans factory history on the same shelf.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Porsche 963 LMDh?
The Porsche 963 is Porsche Penske Motorsport's factory LMDh prototype. It uses a Multimatic-built chassis, a Porsche-developed 4.6-litre twin-turbocharged V8 and the standard LMDh hybrid unit producing around 500 bhp. It competes in both IMSA and the FIA WEC Hypercar class.
What did the No. 6 Porsche 963 achieve at Le Mans 2024?
Kevin Estre qualified the car on pole position for the 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans. In the race, run on 15–16 June 2024, the crew of Estre, Lotterer and Vanthoor finished fourth overall in the Hypercar class.
Who drove the No. 6 Porsche 963 at Le Mans 2024?
Kevin Estre, André Lotterer and Laurens Vanthoor. Lotterer is a three-time Le Mans winner; Estre is a multiple Porsche Supercup champion; Vanthoor is a Belgian factory driver with extensive WEC and IMSA experience.
Who makes this 1:18 scale model and what material is it?
It is produced by IXO Models as a die-cast metal replica at 1:18 scale.
