Porsche's return to top-level prototype competition with its 963 LMDh has produced results almost immediately, and the 2025 running of IMSA's most storied endurance race is among the clearest proof. Built on the Multimatic ORECA LMDh platform and powered by the 9RD 4.6-litre twin-turbocharged V8 paired with a Bosch hybrid system, the 963 debuted in 2023 and quickly became a benchmark in the GTP class. IXO Models documents one of its defining moments in die-cast at 1:18 scale.
The Porsche 963: LMDh Architecture and the 9RD Hybrid V8
The 963 sits on the shared Multimatic ORECA LMDh chassis, a platform that allows manufacturers to install their own powertrain while complying with ACO and IMSA Balance of Performance regulations. Porsche's contribution is the 9RD unit — a 4.6-litre twin-turbocharged V8 integrated with a Bosch hybrid system — delivering a regulated combined output of approximately 500 kW (680 hp). First introduced for the 2023 season across both IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and FIA World Endurance Championship, the 963 gave Porsche Penske Motorsport a competitive weapon at the very top of prototype sport within its first full campaign.
Sebring 2025: An Outright Win for Nasr, Tandy and Vanthoor
Felipe Nasr, Nick Tandy and Laurens Vanthoor shared the No. 7 Porsche Penske Motorsport entry throughout the 2025 12 Hours of Sebring, a round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in which GTP-class cars compete for overall honours. The trio secured the outright win, adding a significant chapter to Porsche's long list of victories at the Florida circuit. Nasr brings Le Mans class-winning experience, Tandy multiple sportscar titles across IMSA and WEC, and Vanthoor consistent front-running pace in the FIA WEC — a line-up that is, by any measure, among the strongest fielded in GTP competition. The car ran in Porsche Penske's signature white, red and black livery, a colour scheme that connects directly to the decades-long Penske–Porsche partnership.
IXO Models 1:18 Scale Model: Die-Cast in Racing Trim
IXO Models produces this 1:18 scale model car in die-cast metal, replicating the No. 7 Porsche Penske Motorsport 963 as it appeared at Sebring in March 2025. The livery — white base with red and black Porsche Penske graphics — is reproduced across the full body, including the aerodynamic bodywork characteristic of LMDh prototypes: wide front splitter, sculpted side pods and a prominent rear diffuser. Die-cast construction at this scale allows for the precise surface detailing and panel definition that collectors expect from a race-winner reproduction. IXO Models has built a substantial catalogue of IMSA and WEC prototype subjects, making this release a consistent extension of that series.
In the Display Cabinet: GTP Era in Context
The No. 7 Sebring winner pairs naturally with other Porsche Penske 963 subjects — the No. 6 IMSA entry of Cameron, Campbell and Jaminet, or the WEC entries competing at Le Mans. For collectors focused on the current GTP era, it sits alongside rival 1:18 subjects such as the Cadillac V-Series.R and BMW M Hybrid V8 from the same 2025 Sebring race, providing a coherent snapshot of the class. Those building a Penske–Porsche heritage shelf will find the No. 7's white, red and black scheme a visual link to earlier Penske Porsche prototype campaigns, from the RS Spyder LMP2 generation onwards.
