Porsche unveils one-of-a-kind 963 RSP

New Straits Times

15-06-2025

A one-of-a-kind 963 RSP, unveiled last week by Porsche AG, is a street-legal road car derived from the formidable 963 LMDh Le Mans prototype.
The car is a tribute to 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.
It made its debut on the streets near the Circuit de la Sarthe alongside the car that inspired its creation.
A team from Porsche, Porsche Penske Motorsport and Porsche Cars North America worked in partnership with Penske as they prepared the car for the 24 hours of Le Mans.
"This really started out as a 'what if?' – a passion project by a small team of enthusiasts at Penske and at Porsche who together imagined a version of the 963 that really resembled as closely as possible the spirit and appearance of the Count Rossi 917," said Porsche Cars North America president and chief executive officer Timo Resch.
Resch, who conceived of the original idea, said the 917 from the story was every inch a race car, albeit one driven on the road.
"We took the same approach with the 963 RSP. It uses beautiful materials of the best quality available, but is still every bit a race car underneath," he added.
The 963 RSP features significant changes over the car on which it is based.
Unlike the competition racecars, which are wrapped in different colours, the 963 RSP is the first of its kind to be painted; a unique challenge due to the nature of the carbon fiber and Kevlar bodywork which is ultra-thin in places to save weight.
In a nod to the Count Rossi 917, the 963 RSP is finished in Martini Silver and features uniquely altered bodywork and a bespoke tan leather and Alcantara interior inspired by the trim choices made by Count Rossi 50 years ago.
A dedicated mechanical and electronic setup were configured for its debut on the streets near Le Mans, including a raised ride height and softened dampers, as well as a reprogrammed control unit to allow for the headlights and taillights to operate closer to those of a road car.
These changes along with modified bodywork to cover the wheel arches, the use of Michelin wet weather compound tires and even the fitment of a horn meant the car met the necessary criteria to be allowed to drive on the road and wear licence plates under special permission from the French authorities and with the enthusiastic support of the Automobile Club de l'Ouest, which runs the 24 Hours of Le Mans race.
"That was an experience that will stay with me for a lifetime," said Timo Bernhard, who was at the wheel of the 963 RSP for its first miles on the road.
"Driving down a public road with a 917 beside me, it felt unreal. The car behaved perfectly, it felt a little friendlier and more forgiving than the normal 963, and felt super special and a lot more comfortable, especially as I was not needing all my safety gear."
Penske, who is chairman of Penske Corp, said it had enjoyed a terrific relationship with Porsche dating back to 1972.
"The Porsche 917/30, in particular, was one of the greatest eras in Team Penske history with numerous wins and championships, along with the closed-course speed record set by Mark Donohue in 1975.
"With such a remarkable partnership continuing to this day, we felt it was time to create the most exciting car we could imagine," he added.
Penske said just like the 917, he had wanted this car to be authentic to its origin and have as few changes to it as possible.
"When we got into the project, the differences in the two generations of race cars provided a great challenge. What emerged is a car that has lost none of its edge and is exciting whether on the track or on the road," Penske said.
The 963 RSP was on public display at the Circuit de la Sarthe during the 24 Hours of Le Mans before returning to Stuttgart to be shown at the Porsche Museum.
In July, the car will appear alongside the 917 at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.