Porsche is set to honor its rich racing heritage at the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans by unveiling a special livery inspired by the car that secured the brand’s first-ever class victory at the legendary French endurance race.
The German manufacturer, together with customer team Manthey, will field two Porsche 911 GT3 R entries in the LMGT3 category during the 94th edition of the event, scheduled for June 13-14. Both cars will feature a striking silver design paying tribute to the Porsche 356 SL Coupé that competed at Le Mans in 1951.
The initiative forms part of Porsche’s celebrations marking 75 years of motorsport involvement, a journey that began with a modest but historic debut at Circuit de la Sarthe. In 1951, French drivers Auguste Veuillet and Edmond Mouche guided the lightweight Porsche 356 SL to victory in its class, laying the foundation for what would become one of the most successful legacies in endurance racing history.
Since that first appearance, Porsche has amassed an impressive record of 19 overall victories and 112 class wins at Le Mans. Even more remarkably, the Stuttgart-based manufacturer remains the only brand to have had at least one car on the starting grid every year since 1951.
“We are not only the record holders for overall and class victories, but also the only manufacturer to have competed at Le Mans without interruption since 1951,” said Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President of Porsche Motorsport. “This achievement makes us extremely proud and highlights how important motorsport remains as a development platform for Porsche.”
Laudenbach also emphasized how many technologies now found in production cars were first developed through racing programs, including ventilated disc brakes, the PDK dual-clutch transmission and the company’s advanced 800-volt electrical architecture.
The original Porsche 356 SL that inspired the anniversary livery was powered by a 1,086cc air-cooled four-cylinder boxer engine producing just 46 horsepower. Despite its modest output, the car impressed with its reliability and efficiency, completing 2,840 kilometers and securing both a class victory and 20th place overall in the 1951 race.
For the 2026 edition, Manthey’s pair of Porsche 911 GT3 Rs will carry that historic silver color scheme into battle. Car number 91 will be driven by, among others, Porsche works driver Ayhancan Güven, while the sister number 92 entry will feature experienced factory driver Richard Lietz.
As Porsche pursues a third consecutive LMGT3 class victory at Le Mans, the special anniversary livery serves as a reminder of the company’s enduring connection to the world’s most prestigious endurance race and a motorsport legacy that spans three quarters of a century.
Foto Crediti: porsche.com
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