Porsche 963 RSP: One-Off Hypercar Tribute Debuts at Le Mans
Porsche has unveiled the 963 RSP, a radical one-off hypercar that joins its 963 Le Mans Hypercar stable as a road-ready tribute to the legendary Count Rossi 917. The newcomer rolled through the streets beside the Circuit de la Sarthe moments before the 24 Hours of Le Mans, echoing the iconic public-road run of its 1975 forebear.
Engineers from Porsche AG, Porsche Penske Motorsport, and Porsche Cars North America developed the 963 RSP in concert with motorsport giant Roger Penske, whose initials inspire the car’s name. They aim to capture the daring spirit of the 917 and its extraordinary journey from Zuffenhausen to Paris five decades ago, when its enigmatic owner insisted on as-built purity.
“This started as a ‘what if?’—a passion project by a small team of enthusiasts at Penske and Porsche,” explained Porsche Cars North America President and CEO Timo Resch. “The 917 from the story was every inch a race car—albeit one driven on the road—and 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.”
The 963 RSP swaps race-spec wraps for paint—a first for the carbon- and Kevlar-bodied 963 platform. Finished in Martini Silver with bespoke bodywork, the car mirrors the Count Rossi 917 and features a tan leather and Alcantara cockpit that blends craftsmanship with a competitive DNA. Porsche softened the Multimatic DSSV dampers, raised ride height, fitted Michelin wet-compound tyres, added a horn, and re-programmed the control unit for road-legal lighting, securing French number plates with enthusiastic approval from the Automobile Club de l’Ouest.
“Driving down a public road with a 917 beside me—it felt unreal,” said Porsche driver Timo Bernhard after guiding the 963 RSP on its maiden road miles. “The car behaved perfectly; it felt a little friendlier and more forgiving than the normal 963, and super special without all my usual safety gear.”
Roger Penske added, “With such a remarkable partnership continuing to this day, we felt it was time to create the most exciting car we could imagine. Just like the 917, I wanted this car to be authentic to its origin with as few changes as possible. The result has lost none of its edge and thrills on track or road.”
After its Le Mans appearance, the 963 RSP will return to Stuttgart for display in the Porsche Museum and later tackle the Goodwood Festival of Speed alongside the storied 917.
The idea germinated trackside at Road Atlanta, where Timo Resch, Thomas Laudenbach, and Urs Kuratle dreamed of repeating the 917’s feat with a 963. Roger Penske and Jonathan Diuguid embraced the concept, commissioning the car that now bears Penske’s initials. Porsche’s Sonderwunsch team in Zuffenhausen and Porsche Classic in Atlanta translated the vision into reality, matching original Martini Silver paint by trawling museum records and applying a triple-layer lacquer to the ultra-thin composite skin. Satin-black hinges, 3D-printed “963 RSP” badging, unique wheel-arch vents, and an enamel crest on the nose complete the homage.
Inside, soft tan leather trims the air-conditioned carbon seat, dash, doors, and detachable steering wheel, while light Alcantara covers the roof and pillars. A 3D-printed cup holder, a bespoke Peltor headset mount, and an alloy plaque marking the chassis number and build date reinforce the car’s singular status. Ventilation bezels echo the 917’s flat-12 cooling fan, threading subtle design lineage through the cabin.
Porsche returned the hybrid V8 powertrain, derived from the RS Spyder and 918 Spyder, to run on pump fuel and deliver smoother road manners. The 4.6-litre twin-turbo engine still works with a Bosch motor-generator unit and Williams battery, producing up to 800 volts and brief 30- to 50-kW electric boosts through an Xtrac seven-speed gearbox. Powertrain mapping tempers race aggression for everyday drivability without diluting performance pedigree.
A custom carbon crash helmet in matching Martini Silver and a Snap-On tool chest wrapped in the same leather accompany the car, ready to service this singular machine. Although capable of limited road use under special dispensation, the Porsche 963 RSP remains an unhomologated, irreplaceable celebration of Porsche racing heritage and Roger Penske’s enduring partnership.
