As Porsche prepares for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, a sister to the 963 Hypercar has been revealed - named the 963 RSP. An extreme one-off based on the IMSA championship and WEC championship winning machine, the car closely follows the design direction taken by a very special 917 50 years ago. Fittingly, it made its debut on the streets near the Circuit de la Sarthe alongside the car that inspired its creation.
The work of a team from Porsche AG, Porsche Penske Motorsport and Porsche Cars North America in partnership with motorsport legend Roger Penske, whose initials form the name of the car, the 963 RSP was influenced by the trailblazing 917 and an audacious drive that took place half a century ago. In April 1975, a 917 (chassis 30) - the most advanced endurance race car at that time - made an extraordinary journey, not on the track, but on public roads. From the factory in Zuffenhausen, it traveled to Paris - at the wheel was its enigmatic owner, who encouraged on as few changes as possible to the car, which remains in France, and on the road, to this day.
With the concept established, the Sonderwunsch team in Zuffenhausen began translating the idea to reality in cooperation with the Sonderwunsch colleagues at Porsche Classic in Atlanta - a standalone facility opened in 2023. Drawing on the changes selected by Count Rossi in 1975, Grant Larson, Director of Special Projects at Style Porsche, and his designers envisioned a 963 that would stay as close as possible to the original car with a silver and black color pallet on the outside, and a tan leather and Alcantara mix for the interior. This extended to the decision to paint the car - as was the case with the 917 - rather than wrapping it, as is the normal with current race cars, and a significant challenge due to the Kevlar®?
and carbon fiber body construction. The paint to sample color - 'Martini Silver' - was verified from the records held by the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, with a triple-layer lacquer applied. Minor components such as hinges and wing connectors are all finished in satin black with a unique 3D printed '963 RSP' created and applied to the rear of the car.
To closer align the 963 to the form of the 917, bodywork changes were made to the 963 RSP. These include the creation of unique fender vents - where otherwise the front and rear fender vents would be open. A collaboration between Sonderwunsch and Porsche Penske Motorsport, the vents were digitally rendered first before applied to the car, with the new design allowing air within the wheel wells to escape.
Additionally, the carbon fiber blanking plates that sit within the rear wing - a requirement on the race car - were able to be removed for the 963 RSP. added to the nose of the car - replacing the graphic that is applied to all conventional 963s - was an enamel Porsche badge, a detailed shared with the 917. A small detail change was the addition of 1970s-era Michelin logos for the tire walls, and rain-spec 18-inch tires over forged OZ racing wheels.
Finally - and in another first - mounting points for front and rear licenseplates were added ahead of the car being driven on public roads to mark the 50th anniversary of the first street drive of the 917. Design process - interior: Possibly the departure from the 963 race car occurs inside the 963 RSP. Following the lead of the handcrafted and completely bespoke interior of the 963 RSP.
