Porsche will return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2013.

For the first time since 1998, Porsche will participate in the 2013 season, taking part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the World Endurance Championship (WEC).

To Porsche race fans, 1998 is significant. It was the last time the German auto maker won an overall victory at Circuit de la Sarthe.

Porsche 911 GT1, circa 1998.

It would have been great to see Porsche develop a prototype level car, such as the RS Spyder introduced back in 2005. Instead, the team is working on a GT version of the new 911, with works drivers taking part in the testing.

The good news is that Porsche is back in racing as a manufacturer and not just in a support role.

Porsche works team fields two 911 RSR in 2013

Stuttgart. For the 2013 racing season, Porsche AG will field two new GT racecars based on the newest generation of the Porsche 911 at the Le Mans 24 hour race and in the World Endurance Championship (WEC). For the first time since the overall victory in 1998, a factory team from Porsche will tackle the famed long distance classic in France. 

The two new Porsche 911 RSR, which race in the GTE category, will be run by the Porsche AG Team Manthey. The role of team manager goes to the experienced endurance specialist Olaf Manthey, who has celebrated five overall wins with Porsche at the Nürburgring 24 hour race and recently fielded a 911 GT3 RSR in the International GT Open.

“The new 911 RSR is currently being developed by our engineers and tested by our works drivers,” says Porsche Head of Motorsport, Hartmut Kristen. “What better time could there be to introduce the new car than the Porsche 911’s 50th anniversary.”

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Porsche returns to Le Mans! – Works team will field two 911 RSRs in 2013