Porsche celebrates 20 years of the movie ‘Cars’ with action at the 24 Hours of Daytona

Pixar’s animated film “Cars” turns two decades old in 2026. To mark the franchise’s 20th anniversary, Porsche staged a symbolic encounter between fiction and reality ahead of the start of the 24 Hours of Daytona in Florida this weekend. The event brought together the characters Lightning McQueen and Sally Carrera with the German brand’s competition machines.

In the paddock at Daytona International Speedway, life-size replicas of the protagonists of Radiator Springs shared the spotlight with the No. 7 Porsche 963 LMDh from the Penske Motorsport team and the 911 GT3 R from AO Racing — famous among fans for the nickname “Rexy” due to its dinosaur paint.

The initiative reinforces the long-standing partnership between the automaker and the animation studio: in 2022, Porsche had already honored the character Sally Carrera.

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On that occasion, the manufacturer created the “Sally Special”, an exclusive model based on the 911 of the 992 generation. The vehicle, auctioned for US$ 3,6 million (about R$ 20 million at current prices) for charitable purposes, had the vibrant blue color and retro wheels of the original character – who, in the film, is a 911 of the 996 generation.

In addition to the actions on the tracks, the franchise’s presence remains strong off them. At Disney California, the themed area dedicated to the trilogy remains a gathering place for enthusiasts, allowing audiences to visit a faithful recreation of the city from the film.