The Porsche 911 RSRs, which are works Porsche 911 RSRs, will wear Coca-Cola livery for the final of the 2019 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
The 50th anniversary season of International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) saw several special liveries in the season-opening Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring.
Porsche has decided that its Porsche 911 RSRs will be competing for the GT Le Mans title in the 10-hour season-closer. Porsche’s cars will carry the slogans “Coca-Cola!” and “Coke Is It!” made famous by Bob Akin Motor Racing’s Porsche 935s, 962s, and 962s of the 1980s.
Akin’s cars ran Coca-Cola-themed liveries for seven consecutive years. He shared his 962 with Hans Joachim Stuck, Jo Gartner and won the Sebring 12 Hours 1986 in the iconic red-‘n-white colors.
The #911 911 of Nick Tandy/Patrick Pilet, and third driver Frederic Makowiecki will have a white windshield banner while the #912 car of Earl Bamber/Laurens Vandoor and third man Mathieu Jeanaminet will have a black banner. Both cars’ BBS wheels (both cars) will be white.
According to the press release, the partnership is “naturally compatible with the venue” because Porsche Cars North America headquarters are in Atlanta and Coca-Cola’s entire corporate history has been in Atlanta.
Pedro Mota is the VP of Marketing for PCNA. He said, “Last autumn, we kicked off IMSA’s 50th Anniversary celebrations with the fan-favorite Mobil 1 Livery at Petit Le Mans. The 2019 season began with a celebration of another long-standing, successful relationship with Hurley Haywood and Brumos Racing’s famous red, white, and blue’sweeps’.
“Now, as a final tribute to honor IMSA’s Golden Anniversary, we bring back another memorable livery… a local favourite: Coca-Cola. We also get to recall Bob Akin who brought Coca-Cola, Porsche, and the 935 and 962 race cars that he won.
Jim France, IMSA chairman and NASCAR chairman, said: “I cannot think of a better way to celebrate the 50th anniversary season of IMSA by seeing two iconic brands in the globe – Porsche and Coca-Cola – return an unforgettable livery.
“Bob Akin was a one-of-a-kind, just like Porsche and Coca-Cola. To see this livery at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta in the Motul Petit Le Mans this year will be an exciting experience for all.”
Petit Le Mans will be the last outing of the current-gen 911 RSR, before it is replaced next season by the RSR-19. It has debuted at the FIA World Endurance Championship.