Porsche 963 RSP is a one-off racer for the road

This road-legal racer was inspired by a similar version of the Le Mans-winning Porsche 917 built 50 years ago.

Porsche has created a road-legal version of its 963 hypercar. That’s the machine vying to win this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Only one Porsche 963 RSP has been produced. It is inspired by a similar one-off, road-legal version of the two-time Le Mans-winning Porsche 917 race car. The German company made that one 50 years ago.

Here is the other one-off road-going Le Mans design from 50 years ago.

Porsche ensured the historic car was road legal by adding a set of exhaust silencers, extra mirrors, side indicators and a horn.

However, the modifications are slightly more significant for the 963. The lightweight CF bodywork was painted in the same Martini Silver hue as the Porsche 917 race car. On the nose is an enamel Porsche badge, rather than a sticker. New vents adorn the front wings and a unique 3D printed badge they applied to the rear light bar.

Forged OZ racing wheels are wrapped in 18-inch Michelin tyres with a seventies-era logo added. Inside is a bespoke, hand-made interior featuring tan leather and Alcantara upholstery. Carbon seats are air-conditioned, like the 963 race car’s.

Under the hood?

The Porsche 963 RSP features a race-tuned 500kW hybrid powertrain. At its heart is a 4.6-litre V8 engine from the Porsche 918 Spyder supercar, boosted by two turbochargers. It can spin to over 8000rpm. The motor was remapped to make power delivery smoother and to permit the use of regular petrol.

The solitary 963 RSP was commissioned by Roger Penske, whose initials ‘RSP’ give the car its name. The Porsche Penske Motorsport team won both the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and World Endurance Championship with the 963 last year. It is bringing three cars along to compete in Le Mans.

The Porsche 963 RSP will make its public debut at the Circuit de la Sarthe during the 24 Hours of Le Mans, before returning to the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart.

In July, the car will participate in the Goodwood Festival of Speed, along with the 917.