We’ve seen plenty of epic retro throwbacks in sport over recent years, including Jerseys from way-back in Rugby League and plenty of solid flashbacks in the Supercars too. But for us, this retro collaboration takes the cake. Apple and Porsche – hell yeah.
This weekend, round four of the IMSA Sportscar Championship takes place at Laguna Seca in California and two cars from the Porsche Penske Motorsport works racing team will run a livery dating back to the 1980 Le Mans race.
The Apple Computer spectrum livery ran on the Porsche 935 that ran at Le Mans back when, and has been classicly reproduced for this weekend’s event to celebrate 50 years of Apple and 75 years of Porsche.
And it’s a full collaboration, with Oliver Schusser, Apple’s VP of Music, Sports and Beats saying “We’ve enjoyed a longstanding relationship with Porsche, going back to 1980 when a Porsche race car first carried the Apple logo,”
“That moment marked the beginning of a shared passion for innovation and creativity that continues to define our collaboration today. As Apple celebrates its 50th anniversary, we’re proud to once again partner with Porsche on a design that pays tribute to that original 1980 livery.”
The first time a Porsche race car run the Apple colours was in that 1980 season when Dick Barbour Racing entered a 935 K3, including at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It was at that same venue that Porsche Motorsport’s success story began in 1951 with a class victory for the 356 SL.
Laguna Seca is just 130km South of Apple Park – Apple’s global HQ so it’s kinda perfect.
“The Laguna Seca circuit suits both our team and our car extremely well,” Urs Kuratle, Head of Works Motorsport LMDh said “Last year, we achieved a one-two finish there and further underlined the status of the Porsche 963 as the most successful car built to LMDh regulations. In the beginning of April, a two-day test at Laguna Seca provided us with valuable data that will help us fine-tune our hybrid prototypes for the upcoming race weekend.”
Two cars will run the Apple Computer Spectrum Livery:
- Porsche Penske Motorsport #6: Kévin Estre (FRA) / Laurens Vanthoor (BEL)
- Porsche Penske Motorsport #7: Julien Andlauer (FRA) / Felipe Nasr (BRA)
You can watch the race live on Monday Morning Australian time on YouTube:
Trev is a Technology Commentator, Dad, Speaker and Rev Head.
He produces and hosts several popular podcasts, EFTM, Two Blokes Talking Tech, Two Blokes Talking Electric Cars, The Best Movies You’ve Never Seen, and the Private Feed. He is the resident tech expert for Triple M on radio across Australia, and is the resident Tech Expert on Channel 9’s Today Show and appears regularly on 9 News, A Current Affair and Sky News Early Edition.
Father of three, he is often found in his Man Cave.
