Porsche Announced as New Safety Car Supplier

Porsche has been announced as the official safety car provider for the FIA World Endurance Championship ‘Super Season’.

The German manufacturer’s 911 Turbo will replace the outgoing Audi R8 V10, which carried the duty between 2016-17.

It will be driven by official WEC safety car driver and former GT3 racer Pedro Couceiro, while four-time Le Mans winner Yannick Dalmas will pilot the ‘Leading Car’ at the 24-hours in June.

The three-year deal to run the 911 Turbo will exist through to the end of the 2019-20 season and include three editions of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

“The Safety Car is part of the ‘show’ and, at this moment we couldn’t have a better sports car than the Porsche 911 as the fast intervention vehicle on track,” said WEC CEO Gerard Neveu.

“This is also a perfect illustration of the very close relationship between the WEC and Porsche.” 

Head of Porsche Motorsport Dr. Frank-Steffen Walliser added: “We’re delighted to have the chance to supply the safety cars and intervention vehicles for the FIA World Endurance Championship until 2020.

“As a sports car manufacturer, it was rather easy for us to find a suitable car.

“Basically, many of our production models fit the bill for this special task on the race circuit.

“Ultimately, however, we chose the Porsche 911 as the safety car. In total, 16 vehicles from different model lines will fulfill different functions in the WEC.”