- One-off model stays true to Porsche’s successful LMDh racer from IMSA and WEC.
- The street-legal prototype may have been custom-built for team boss Roger Penske.
- Hybridized 4.6-liter V8 is expected to match the powertrain used in the race car.
Turning a purpose-built race car into something you can legally drive on the street is no small feat, but it’s one Porsche seems determined to pull off again. The company is preparing a road-going version of its 963 LMDh prototype, dubbed the 963 RSP. This one-off creation follows in the tire tracks of the iconic 911 GT1 Strassenversion, channeling Porsche’s endurance racing prowess into something that doesn’t require a pit crew to enjoy.
var adpushup = window.adpushup = window.adpushup || {que:[]};
adpushup.que.push(function() {
if (adpushup.config.platform !== “DESKTOP”){
adpushup.triggerAd(“0f7e3106-c4d6-4db4-8135-c508879a76f8”);
} else {
adpushup.triggerAd(“82503191-e1d1-435a-874f-9c78a2a54a2f”);
}
});
A short teaser video shared online by Porsche shows its expert craftsman putting the car together. It shows them sanding the bespoke carbon fiber bodywork, cutting pieces of the Alcantara upholstery, stitching parts of the cabin, and painting the car. It also provides a look at the rear-mounted 963 RSP badge at the rear of the one-off.
Read: New Porsche 963 Is A 670 HP GTP Hypercar That Will Race At Daytona And Le Mans
It’s believed that Porsche has made as few changes as possible to transform the 963 into a road-legal car. For example, it’s thought to have updated the headlights and taillights, fitted new wing mirrors, and made several safety-related upgrades. The cabin is also expected to be very similar to the endurance racer, albeit with some nicer materials to make it a little more comfortable and accommodating.
The name of the car could provide us with a clue as to who the special owner is. Penske operates Porsche’s factory 963 program and last year, won four championships in the IMSA and World Endurance Championships with the hybrid hypercar. The owner of the team, Roger Penske, just so happens to have the initials RSP, as Road & Track notes.
If the car has indeed been built for Penske, such a move wouldn’t be unprecedented for Porsche. In 1975, Porsche built a road-going version of the successor 917K for Count Gregorio Rossi di Montelera from Martini & Rossi, a company that served as the sponsor of Porsche’s factory team back in the day.
The RSP’s powertrain should be mostly identical to the race car. That means it will rock a 4.6-liter twin-turbocharged V8 that operates alongside a hybrid system. This engine is capped at 670 hp to comply with racing regulations, but we wouldn’t be surprised if Porsche increased that figure for the RSP, free from these regs.
var adpushup = window.adpushup = window.adpushup || {que:[]};
adpushup.que.push(function() {
if (adpushup.config.platform !== “DESKTOP”){
adpushup.triggerAd(“bb7964e9-07de-4b06-a83e-ead35079d53c”);
} else {
adpushup.triggerAd(“9b1169d9-7a89-4971-a77f-1397f7588751”);
}
});
