Many gearheads dream of competing in iconic races, like the Indianapolis 500, the Grand Prix of Monaco, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Only a select few drivers will ever get to live out those dreams. For the rest, here’s a road-legal version of the Porsche 963 RSP. This week the car made its first appearance, just outside of the town of Le Mans in France, with three-time race winner Timo Berhnard at the wheel. Parked next to it is a vintage Porsche 917 Count Rossi.
The 963 RSP project was designed and developed by Porsche AG, Porsche Penske Motorsport and Porsche Cars North America in partnership with Roger Penske, 50 years on from the 917’s debut as a road car. The 963 features significant changes from the race car. Painted in Martini Silver over a tan leather interior inspired by the trim choices made by the actual Count Rossi 50 years ago, with a single-piece carbon seat.
For its street debut, the ride height was raised to the maximum setting, and Canadian-made Multimatic DSSV dampers on their softest setting, allowed for a more compliant ride. Headlights and taillights operating like a road car have been retrofitted, along with turn signals, a horn, and a license plate bracket. The 4.6 L hybrid V8 has been re-mapped to provide smooth power delivery more appropriate for road use, and now runs on 93 octane pump gas, rather than race fuel.
The Porsche 963 RSP will be on display during the 24 Hours of Le Mans, before it returns to Stuttgart, Germany, to be shown at the Porsche Museum, before heading to the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July to drive alongside the Porsche 917.
Man, what a beautiful ticket-magnet…
I never thought of the down side. I just wondered how I would het it over the curb and into my driveway.