Donkervoort P24 RS Turbocharger Breakthrough Boosts Performance
Donkervoort has joined forces with Dutch Formula One supplier Van der Lee to craft exclusive ball-bearing billet turbochargers for the forthcoming Donkervoort P24 RS, giving the lightweight supercar more substantial low-end torque, sustained power to the redline, and an almost naturally aspirated throttle feel throughout its rev range. Machined from solid alloy billets, the turbines feature intricate blade geometries impossible with casting, so they spin up faster, cut turbo lag and weigh barely four kilograms each, maximising the P24 RS’s power-to-weight ratio while simplifying engine packaging.
“There are many similarities between Van der Lee and Donkervoort. We are both Dutch, quiet achievers, and we prioritise heavy customisation for our customers. We can’t wait for people to experience what we’ve created here,” announced Denis Donkervoort, Managing Director of Donkervoort Automobielen. He added, “They have created works of art that give the PTC motor the throttle response of a naturally aspirated car, weigh almost nothing, and are exclusive to Donkervoort.”
Van der Lee’s résumé includes turbochargers for the Formula 2 single-engine series and World Endurance Championship frontrunners. Managing Director Jaap Van der Lee noted, “Donkervoort knows what it wants, and this has been an impressive, focused collaboration.” He stressed that his firm’s low-volume, high-quality, lightweight ethos mirrors Donkervoort’s and draws on aviation and Formula 1 know-how to lift the PTC engine’s performance across the rev band.
“There are no carry-over parts for this PTC turbo. It’s a completely new design for Donkervoort,” Van der Lee said. The compressor wheel and other components apply motorsport lessons to road-car use, and both family-owned companies push boundaries by perfecting established technology and pioneering fresh ideas.
Donkervoort emphasised the rarity of bespoke turbos in the supercar world, where most marques settle for off-the-shelf units. The partnership delivers ultra-light four-kilogram turbos that raise power yet preserve compact dimensions. Ball-bearing architecture and billet turbines let the units spool rapidly, tolerate higher temperatures and further shrink lag—advantages mainstream OEMs rarely fund for mass production.
Van der Lee guarantees durability, stating that every turbocharger is rated for at least 300,000 kilometres and designed to endure simulations of the 24-hour Le Mans at full throttle for 100,000 kilometres. The Donkervoort units benefit from thinner housings, premium materials and a performance-first design philosophy, with development and craftsmanship outweighing material cost in limited runs of around 200 units. “Donkervoort appreciates that the turbine and compressor design can prioritise performance over ease of production or cost,” Van der Lee concluded.
The Donkervoort P24 RS's PTC motor will feature many more bespoke performance upgrades, and further details will emerge as the supercar’s launch approaches.