Porsche has once again redefined what it means to bring a race car to the road, and if you’ve been following our earlier reporting, you’ll remember that we anticipated this: a modern-day homage to Roger Penske and the iconic street-driven Porsche 917 commissioned by Count Rossi, 50 years ago in 1975. Today, that vision comes to life as a 1-of-1 Porsche 963 RSP, making its debut on public roads near Le Mans, France, running alongside the 917 that inspired it.
The 963 RSP, where the ‘P’ refers to Roger S Penske, the billionaire Founder and Chairman of Penske Corporation, is a wild Sonderwunsch creation, born from the DNA of Porsche’s Le Mans-conquering 963 Hypercar. It shares the race-winning backbone with the racecar, but wears a unique 917-inspired bodywork, exterior color, and a bespoke cabin with vintage 70s-style touches. At the wheel during its first public outing was none other than three-time Le Mans winner Timo Bernhard.
“We have enjoyed a terrific relationship with Porsche dating back to 1972. The Porsche 917/30, in particular, was one of the greatest eras in Team Penske’s history, with numerous wins and championships. 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 and have as few changes to it as possible. When we got into the project, the differences in the two generations of race cars provided a great challenge. What emerged is a car that has lost none of its edge and is exciting whether on the track or on the road.” – Roger S Penske – Founder and Chairman Penske Corporation
The origins of this special car go back to a trackside conversation at Road Atlanta between Porsche’s Timo Resch, Thomas Laudenback, and Urs Kratel. What began as a “What if?” eventually became a full-fledged passion project that took shape with the likes of Porsche AG, Porsche Penske Motorsport, and Porsche Cars North America collaborating on the project.
Exterior highlights include the Martini Silver paint, inspired by Count Rossi’s original 917, the black-silver livery wraps that subtly reworked carbon-fiber/kevlar bodywork, enclosed fender vents, and a clean rear wing sans the blanking plates required from racing, with a vintage enamel Porsche crest on the nose.
Because this is a track car for the road, the transformation on the interior is even more dramatic, with luxury and everyday creature comforts making their way into this otherwise sporty cockpit. There’s a good dose of tan leather and Alcantara, a cup holder (you read that right), a retrimmed steering wheel, a custom stowage panel for a Peltor headset, and a Laptop. Even Roger Penske’s custom helmet has a matching Martini Silver finish.
Mechanically, the Hybrid V8 remains true to its racing roots and is based on the 918 Spyder’s 4.6-liter engine that produces 680 horsepower, with modified hybrid control mapping calibrated for road use. The powertrain control unit was reprogrammed to allow smoother delivery and run on pump gas, a crucial tweak for non-track conditions.
Other modifications include an increased ride height to its max setting, the Multimatic DSSV dampers dialed to the softest setting, and reprogrammed lights and turn signals. Michelin rain-spec tires wrapped around 18-inch forged OZ wheels, a horn, and license plates mean that this car is road-legal in France, with the blessing of the French authorities and the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO), which runs the 24 Hours of Le Mans race.
The Porsche 963 RSP will be displayed during the upcoming Le Mans weekend before heading to the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart and the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July.
Porsche 963 RSP Specs
| Engine Displacement | 4.6L |
| Engine Configuration | Twin-Turbo V8 Hybrid |
| Horsepower | ~680 hp (same as race version) |
| Electric System | 800V; 1.35 kWh battery |
| Suspension | Multimatic DSSV (softened) |
| Tires | Michelin Wet Compound, 18″ |
| Curb Weight | Not disclosed; likely similar to the race car (~1030 kg), with minor road-legal equipment additions |
| Drivability Mods | Pump gas capability, road lighting, re-tuned MGU |
Source: Porsche