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What happens when Porsche builds a real Le Mans race car for the street? Meet the one-off Porsche 963 RSP—built for Roger Penske, approved for road use, and dripping with motorsport DNA.
This video dives into the insane details of the Porsche 963 RSP, a machine that blends 700 horsepower, hybrid tech, and Formula One engineering in a package that can legally drive on public roads. Built in secret, inspired by the legendary 917, and painted in Martini Silver, this is not your typical road car.
We will explore its custom chassis, detuned suspension, street-friendly features, and what it takes to bring a full-blown LMDh car to life outside the race track. From Atlanta to Le Mans and eventually to Monterey, follow the journey of the most outrageous Porsche you have never seen on the street.
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Porsche has unveiled the 963 RSP, a one-off street-legal hypercar based on its 963 endurance racer. Inspired by the iconic 917 “Count Rossi,” this car brings back the legend of 1975, when Count Gregorio Rossi di Montelera drove a road-legal 917 from Zuffenhausen to Paris. Fifty years later, a group of Porsche engineers asked, “What if we did it again?”
That question gave life to the 963 RSP. Built in collaboration with Porsche Penske Motorsport, Porsche Cars North America, and Roger Penske, this one-off creation mirrors the look and spirit of the 917 while using modern materials and technologies. Unlike the WEC race car, the RSP features a fully painted carbon fiber and Kevlar body with no sponsor decals. The color is “Martini Silber,” a nod to the original 917.
Design changes include reshaped air intakes, an enamel Porsche crest on the nose, and a 3D-printed “963 RSP” badge at the rear. Legal plates have been added, along with road-approved lights, a horn, and Michelin rain tires. The Multimatic DSSV suspension has been softened and the ride height raised slightly for real-world usability.
The car was unveiled at Porsche HQ before setting off on a symbolic drive to the Circuit de la Sarthe, joined by the original 917 Count Rossi. Porsche driver Timo Bernhard was the first to drive the RSP on public roads. “It’s an experience I’ll never forget,” he said. “Seeing the RSP next to the 917 was surreal. And it’s surprisingly comfortable — no racing gear needed!”
Inside, the RSP moves away from the spartan interior of the race version. Light brown leather covers the seats and steering wheel, while Alcantara lines the dashboard and pillars. The cabin features padded seats, refined materials, and subtle design details. Highlights include a 3D-printed cupholder, a compartment for a helmet or laptop, fan-style air vents inspired by the 917’s V12, and a metal plaque showing the chassis number and place of assembly.
Powering the RSP is a 4.6-liter twin-turbo V8 adapted from the RS Spyder project, paired with a hybrid system using a 1.35 kWh battery and an MGU between the engine and gearbox. About 80% of its components are shared with the 918 Spyder’s V8. Calibrating the engine for road fuel was a major challenge. The 800V system delivers 30–50 kW of electric boost and has been tuned for smooth road response.
The 963 RSP will be displayed at the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans and later added to the Porsche Museum. In July, it will also appear at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, alongside the original 917 Count Rossi. Porsche has even made a custom helmet for Roger Penske in matching Martini Silber, and a leather-lined toolbox, completing this stunning tribute.
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Comments
- Wow, they actually did make a road legal version of their racer.. on the road it looks almost alien.
- I really want a deepdive on how this converdion to a roadlegal car was achieved. In general explaining the engineering by themselves would be absolute amazing.
- Props to Porsche for making this a reality. I was hoping every manufacturer would make their LM hypercar road legal. Sadly, regulations changed that requirement.
- Some companies mention that a car of theirs is the closest to being a race car for the road. The 963 RSP is next level, it is a race car for the road. And a successor to the 911 GT1s.
- No Porsche, no brand of car can ever surpass the Porsche 917k. What it meant for Motorsport and car culture. Of course the movie Le Mans was and is the ultimate racing car movie. To see the 917k race down the Mulsanne Straight is epic.
- This video simply demonstrates how well the 917 looks. This and the likes as T70, GT 40 or T33/2. Maybe the 963 is more efficient, but it lacks completely the power to embrace emotionally. Even the 499 P does better, and the AM Valkyrie might be considerably slower, but it excels in both, looks and emotional attraction. It's fully reasonable, this 963 is a one-off.
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