As Porsche gears up for the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans, it has unveiled an extraordinary new creation: the Porsche 963 RSP. A road-capable sibling to the 963 Hypercar, this one-off masterpiece pays tribute to one of the most iconic endurance racers in Porsche’s history—the 917—and celebrates the 50th anniversary of a bold, unforgettable journey from Zuffenhausen to Paris.
The Porsche 963 RSP is the brainchild of a collaboration between Porsche AG, Porsche Penske Motorsport, Porsche Cars North America, and motorsport icon Roger Penske, whose initials give the car its name. This bespoke model draws deep inspiration from the legendary Count Gregorio Rossi di Montelera’s 917, which famously travelled public roads from Stuttgart to Paris in 1975 with minimal road-legal modifications.
“Inspired by the Count Rossi 917, this project started as a passion-fueled ‘what if’ scenario among a small team of Porsche and Penske enthusiasts,” said Timo Resch, President and CEO of Porsche Cars North America. “We aimed to build a 963 that captured the same uncompromising racing soul while celebrating an era-defining moment in Porsche history.”
Unlike its racing counterparts wrapped in sponsor liveries, the 963 RSP is the first 963 to receive a full paint finish—an intricate process due to its ultra-light Kevlar and carbon fibre bodywork. It wears Martini Silver, matched from Porsche Museum archives and applied in a triple-layer lacquer. Other unique touches include satin-black minor components, a 3D-printed “963 RSP” rear badge, and period-correct Michelin logos on the 18-inch rain-spec Michelin tires mounted on forged OZ Racing wheels.
The revised bodywork includes enclosed fender vents, removable carbon fibre wing plates, and an enamel Porsche crest on the nose, replacing the usual racing graphic. These changes mirror the design language of the 917 while staying faithful to the form of the 963.
Though derived from a purpose-built endurance car, the 963 RSP is road-ready. Adjustments include raised ride height, softened suspension dampers, and reprogrammed electronics for street lighting compliance. Covered wheel arches, a functional horn, and approval from French authorities—supported by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest—allowed the car to be legally driven on public roads.
Timo Bernhard, Porsche works driver and Le Mans winner, piloted the 963 RSP during its public road debut near the Circuit de la Sarthe. “Driving a 963 alongside a 917 on the open road was surreal. This version felt more forgiving and incredibly special—surprisingly comfortable, too,” he said.
Roger Penske, Chairman of Penske Corporation, expressed pride in the RSP project:
“We’ve shared an incredible journey with Porsche since 1972. The 917/30 marked a golden era for us, and the 963 RSP honours that legacy. We wanted authenticity and purity—and this car captures the spirit of both the past and the present.”
The car will be on display during the 24 Hours of Le Mans before heading to the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart. It will also appear at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July, accompanied by the original 917 that inspired it.
The 963 RSP concept emerged during a conversation at Road Atlanta between Resch, Thomas Laudenbach (VP, Porsche Motorsport), and Urs Kuratle (Director, Factory Racing LMDh). Inspired by Count Rossi’s 917, they envisioned repeating history with the 963 and brought the idea to Roger Penske and Jonathan Diuguid of Porsche Penske Motorsport.
The project was executed by Porsche’s Sonderwunsch team in Zuffenhausen and Porsche Classic in Atlanta. Under the direction of Grant Larson, Director of Special Projects at Style Porsche, the team developed a road-focused vision with hand-crafted design touches—inside and out.
At the heart of the 963 RSP lies a formidable 4.6-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine, delivering approximately 680hp. This powerplant, designated internally as the 9RD, traces its lineage to the RS Spyder and shares around 80% of its components with the 918 Spyder’s engine. Complementing the combustion engine is a hybrid system featuring a Bosch-supplied motor generator unit (MGU) and an 800-volt lithium-ion battery developed by Williams Advanced Engineering. The integration of these systems facilitates electric-only operation and has been meticulously recalibrated to ensure smooth power delivery suitable for road use.
Transitioning the 963 RSP from track to tarmac necessitated several modifications. The ride height was elevated to its maximum setting, and the Multimatic DSSV dampers were adjusted to their softest configuration, enhancing ride comfort. The control unit underwent reprogramming to activate road-legal lighting systems, including headlights and turn signals. Additionally, the engine management system was adapted to operate efficiently on standard pump petrol, a significant undertaking given the vehicle’s racing origins.
Inside, the RSP takes an unprecedented departure from its track-only sibling. The race seat is retained but upholstered in tan leather and Alcantara with added padding for comfort. The roof lining, pillars, and footwells are trimmed in Alcantara. The multifunctional racing steering wheel is now leather-wrapped, and a custom side console holds the vehicle’s Peltor headset and a laptop for system operation. The final touch, a 3D-printed detachable cup holder that fits a Porsche travel mug.
The Porsche 963 RSP is more than a car—it’s a celebration of heritage, engineering, and passion. By uniting the past and present, it becomes a symbol of what Porsche and Penske have always done best: push the limits of what’s possible, whether on the track or the road.
