Porsche Works Team to Unveil Classic Coke Livery at Petit Le Mans
Porsche GT Team 911 RSR cars will wear same livery made famous by Coca-Cola 962 IMSA GTP car from Oct. 9 through 12.
Porsche’s racing efforts over the decades have worn some amazing liveries on their way to the top podium spot. The 917 looked stunning in Gulf Oil, Sunoco, and Martini colors (the Martini colors would be worn by many Porsches into the Eighties), while Jagermeister orange made the 935 flatnose pop against the black asphalt. And we can’t forget the Rothmans colors draped upon the 956 and the 959, lighting up the world from Le Mans to Dakar.
Over here in the United States, the 962 campaigned in IMSA GTP had a few memorable liveries of its own, including the Coca-Cola red and white used by Bob Akin Motor Racing for seven years. And in honor of this classic livery, the Porsche GT Team’s pair of 911 RSRs will wear those colors during the 22nd edition of the 10-hour Petit Le Mans, held October 9 through 12 at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia.
“Last fall, we kicked off the IMSA 50th Anniversary celebration with the fan-favorite Mobil 1 livery at Petit Le Mans,” said Porsche Cars North America marketing chief Pedro Mota. “Now, as one last tribute to honor IMSA on their Golden Anniversary, we are bringing back yet another memorable livery… a local favorite: Coca-Cola.”
The tribute is a perfect match for both Porsche and Coke, as both companies have homes in nearby Atlanta, they’re both big-name global brands, and their respective designs (the 911, the Coke bottle) are recognizable from a single glance. And of course, Road Atlanta itself was funded with an investment by then-president of the Atlanta Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Arthur Montgomery Jr., which helped get the track up and running in 1970.
“I can’t think of a better way for fans to celebrate the final race of IMSA’s 50th Anniversary season by seeing two of the most iconic brands in the world – Porsche and Coca-Cola – bring back an unforgettable livery,” said NASCAR and IMSA chair Jim France. “Bob Akin was one of a kind, much like Porsche and Coca-Cola, and to see this livery at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta for this year’s Motul Petit Le Mans will certainly be exciting for everyone.â€
Porsche itself is leading the pack of the 2019 IMSA season in manufacturers’, team, and drivers’ categories, all based on the ever-improving 911 RSR, itself based on the 911 GT3 RS. The pair of cars in its works team will wear white wheels, fly the same period-correct livery as the Bob Akin 962 (which won the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1986), and be tagged with the ‘Coke is it!’ slogan on the rear quarter panel.
“The anniversary season for IMSA comes to an end with a big highlight,” said Porsche Factory Motorsport chief Pascal Zurlinden. “It’s fantastic that two such strong brands like Porsche and Coca-Cola are working together. We definitely want to continue our shared success story that began in the 1980s. It would be a dream come true if we could secure the title with a top result – especially considering that it will be the last race outing for this version of the Porsche 911 RSR in the IMSA series.â€
Photos: Porsche
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