Porsche 963 RSP – a street-legal Le Mans racing machine
Porsche has recently stunned the world with the unveiling of the 963 RSP, a street-legal version of the Porsche 963 LMDh race car.
The Porsche 963 RSP is a one-off unit, where “RSP” actually stands for Roger S. Penske.
Yes, he is a former racer and the owner of the racing team Team Penske, which has won championships in various prestigious competitions, including IndyCar, IMSA, and the FIA World Endurance Championship.
His name was chosen to honor his contributions to enhancing the Porsche brand.
The idea to create the 963 RSP came from Timo Resch, President and CEO of Porsche Cars North America, who drew inspiration from the legendary 917 race car.
To make it suitable for use on public roads, several modifications were made to the 963 RSP.
These include changes to various body panels, the addition of fender vents, a modified rear wing, and the installation of turn signals, brake lights, and a horn.
All four corners are fitted with 18-inch OZ wheels wrapped in Michelin tires.
The ground clearance has also been slightly raised, aided by a softer suspension setup thanks to the use of adjustable Multimatic DSSV dampers.
The exterior of this machine is coated in a special Martini Silver color, highlighted with satin black accents.
The cabin of the 963 RSP has also been adjusted for greater comfort on the road.
The carbon fiber race seats have been directly taken from the racing machine but have been upholstered by hand and feature real padding, while the entire cabin is wrapped in tan leather and Alcantara.
The steering wheel and door panels are also wrapped in leather.
Additionally, there is a cup holder produced using 3D printing, and a special compartment on the driver’s side for storing a helmet or a special laptop that controls the car’s software.
Finally, there is a plaque on the door displaying the chassis number along with the date and location of assembly.
The Porsche 963 RSP is powered by a 4.6-liter hybrid V8 engine paired with a seven-speed sequential Xtrac transmission taken directly from the actual race car.
However, a remapping has been performed on the electric motor unit and the motor generator (MGU) to ensure smoother power delivery.
As standard, the 963 RSP can produce 680 horsepower.
As a finishing touch, Porsche has also created a custom carbon helmet along with a Snap-On tool set featuring leather-wrapped handles.
Although described as a street-legal machine, the Porsche 963 RSP has only received permission from the French government to be driven in certain events.
According to Autocar, the cost to build a Porsche 963 RSP is around €5 million (approximately RM24 million).
