Race to the Road: The Porsche 963 RSP - AllCarIndex

Race to the Road: The Porsche 963 RSP

Jun 07, 2025

As Porsche prepares to return to the grid for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, a unique one-off creation has taken to the public roads near the Circuit de la Sarthe. The Porsche 963 RSP, a project born from collaboration between Porsche AG, Porsche Penske Motorsport, and Porsche Cars North America, honors both the past and present of Porsche’s endurance racing legacy.

One-Off Tribute to a Racing Legend

The 963 RSP is a bespoke commission honoring Roger S. Penske, one of the most influential figures in motorsport. Its name, “RSP,” directly reflects his initials, while its spirit draws heavily from the legendary Count Rossi Porsche 917—specifically chassis 030, which famously made the journey from Stuttgart to Paris on public roads in 1975.

The new car debuted alongside that original 917, with three-time Le Mans winner Timo Bernhard behind the wheel of the 963 RSP. His drive marked not just a technical milestone but a symbolic one: a race car, tuned for the road, paying tribute to a moment in motorsport history that redefined what endurance racing machines could be.

Sonderwunsch: Design with Purpose

At the heart of the 963 RSP’s development was Porsche’s Sonderwunsch program, which specializes in highly individualized commissions. With influences from Count Rossi’s original requests 50 years ago, the team reimagined the modern 963 prototype as something roadworthy without compromising its race-bred DNA.

The Martini Silver paintwork is a direct reference to the 917 and is not a wrap but a custom triple-layer lacquer painstakingly applied to the thin, weight-sensitive carbon-Kevlar® body panels. The unique bodywork includes custom fender vents, modified rear sections, and painted-on badging, with even the enamel Porsche crest replacing the standard vinyl graphic on the nose.

A new ride height, adjusted suspension, and a modified control unit were implemented to make the car road-legal under a special permit in France. Details such as a functioning horn, working headlights and taillights, and Michelin wet-weather tires were part of the road-readiness package, while custom 18-inch OZ wheels wore period-style Michelin branding.

Interior: A Nod to the Past

Inside, the 963 RSP diverges sharply from the stark, utilitarian cockpit of its race-going sibling. The cabin is dressed in tan leather and Alcantara, mirroring the bespoke finishes of Count Rossi’s 917. The single-piece carbon fiber seat has been upholstered with comfort in mind, and although the cockpit retains the 963's air conditioning, added elements like a 3D-printed cup holder, custom dashboard panel, and bespoke mounting area for Penske’s crash helmet subtly balance usability with historical reverence.

Additional touches—such as ventilation end caps shaped to mimic the 917’s flat-12 cooling fan, and an aluminum chassis plaque—further enhance the one-of-a-kind nature of the cabin.

Mechanical Adaptations for Public Roads

Although fundamentally a race car, the 963 RSP underwent significant modifications for its limited road use. The ride height was raised, Multimatic DSSV dampers softened, and the control unit reprogrammed to facilitate normal lighting and signaling behavior.

The hybrid powertrain, while retaining its standard race tune, was adapted for pump fuel and optimized for smoother delivery. The 4.6-liter twin-turbocharged V8, derived from the RS Spyder and later used in the 918 Spyder, remains at the heart of the car. It's complemented by a standardized hybrid system, consisting of a Bosch MGU and Williams Advanced Engineering battery, producing short bursts of electric boost via an 800-volt system.

Final Touches and Future Appearances

Included with the 963 RSP are exclusive accessories: a custom Martini Silver crash helmet, a bespoke Snap-On tool chest, and special equipment inserts to operate and maintain the vehicle. The car itself is not homologated for general road use and will remain a one-off creation.

The Porsche 963 RSP will be on display during the 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans, before returning to Stuttgart to be showcased at the Porsche Museum. In July, it will also appear at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, where it will once again be presented alongside its historic muse, the Count Rossi 917.

A Legacy Reimagined

The 963 RSP is more than a design exercise or a heritage homage. It is a statement on the continuity of Porsche’s motorsport ethos—linking the groundbreaking innovations of the 1970s to the cutting-edge hybrid performance of today’s top-tier endurance prototypes. In commemorating Roger Penske and Count Rossi’s influence, Porsche has written a new chapter in its storied history—one that starts on the track, and now, just as compellingly, extends onto the road.