Porsche Penske Motorsport’s two 963 hypercars will thunder down Laguna Seca’s Corkscrew on May 3, 2026, wrapped in a striking rainbow spectrum. Boom. This one-off design echoes the Apple Computer logo from 1980, splashed across a customer Porsche 935 K3 that raced at Le Mans. It’s no random nostalgia. The livery marks Apple’s 50th year since founding and Porsche Motorsport’s 75th anniversary.
The original 935 K3, entered by Dick Barbour Racing, carried Apple’s early branding through the 1980 IMSA GT season and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, driven by Bob Garretson among others. That rainbow—red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet—debuted on Apple’s logo in 1977, using the Motter Tektura font. Now, it returns on modern prototypes, blending tech heritage with racing pedigree.
Apple Music, Sports, and Beats Vice President Oliver Schusser captured the bond: “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.” Porsche Motorsport Vice President Thomas Laudenbach added that both companies are “icons that stand for innovation and continuous development by experts in Zuffenhausen, Weissach and Cupertino.” MacRumors first detailed the announcement.
And it’s timely. The No. 7 Porsche 963, shared by France’s Julien Andlauer and Brazil’s Felipe Nasr, leads the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship after wins at Daytona and Sebring. The No. 6 pairs France’s Kévin Estre with Belgium’s Laurens Vanthoor. A 2-hour-40-minute sprint awaits at the track, just 80 miles south of Apple Park. Porsche Newsroom released the official reveal.
Roots in a Startup Sponsorship
Flash back to 1976. Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak launch Apple from a Los Angeles garage. By 1980, the young firm sponsors a race car to boost visibility. The 935 K3 becomes a rolling billboard, its flanks bleeding six colors in Apple’s spectrum. That car pounded pavement at Le Mans, finishing respectably despite mechanical woes. No wins. But the imagery stuck.
Fast-forward. Porsche Penske debuted an Apple Music-themed wrap earlier in 2026 at Long Beach, hinting at this full retro treatment. “Porsche Penske Motorsport and Apple will continue their collaboration from Long Beach which celebrates both the 75th anniversary of Porsche Motorsport and the 50th anniversary of Apple,” noted Racer.com. The shift from music branding to pure 1980 homage amps the historical punch.
Industry watchers see parallels. Both brands obsess over precision—Porsche in aerodynamics and hybrid powertrains, Apple in silicon and software. The 963 packs a 4.6-liter twin-turbo V8 with electric boost, pushing over 670 horsepower. Vinyl wraps like this one must withstand 200-mph speeds and track abuse, no small feat for designers.
But why now? Anniversaries aside, motorsport liveries double as marketing gold. Throwbacks draw crowds, spark social buzz. X posts from @MacRumors and @JustFreshKicks racked up thousands of views within hours, fans drooling over the rainbow blaze.
Laguna Seca Spotlight and Beyond
Laguna Seca demands respect. Its 11 turns, including the blind dive at Turn 8, test even Le Mans winners like Estre. Weather could play spoiler—May in Monterey brings fog and chill. Yet Porsche’s duo enters favorites, the No. 7 car unbeaten in endurance classics.
Sportscar365 highlighted the Dick Barbour Racing ties, noting the 935 K3’s Le Mans run with Garretson. Motor1 praised the homage, calling it a nod to a customer-owned icon. Even 9to5Mac tied it to Apple’s California roots.
One race only. Then the wraps come off. But the echo lingers. Porsche has form here—throwback designs pop up for milestones, like Gulf Oil blues or Rothmans reds. Apple? Rare track dalliance, save music tie-ins. This fusion revives a quirky chapter when a bootstrapped computer maker bet on speed to sell machines.
Expect fan shots flooding feeds post-race. Wins or not, the cars already lap up attention. History on wheels. Racing forward.
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