Image via Porsche
Porsche has revealed the 963 RSP, a road legal version of the hypercar used in the IMSA championship and WEC championship. This is about the last thing we were expecting the Germans to reveal in the runup to this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, yet here we are.
Michael Schumacher’s old Bugatti EB110 SS has been spotted in public.
According to the automaker, design elements for the 963 RSP were inspired by a certain Porsche 917 which dominated circuits 50 years ago before being transformed into a road car. That’s why the one-off hypercar has a retro flair to it. The result is a beautiful yet wondrously capable machine.
Unlike the motorsports versions of the Porsche 963, the RSP is painted. That alone was a challenge, thanks to the carbon fiber and Kevlar panels being incredibly thin in certain areas in the name of weight savings.
But the Martini Silver looks great. The interior is a warmer, more inviting place than in the hypercar’s motorsports brethren, thanks to the addition of tan leather upholstery and Alcantara appointments. While there’s still only a single seat and the array of racecar controls remain, there’s also a cupholder attached to the dash.
Because racecars don’t work so well on public roads, the Porsche 963 RSP has some mechanical changes. The ride height is higher and the dampers are softer. Modified body panels cover the wheel arches entirely. Plus, there’s a horn, something entirely unnecessary for racing.
Engineers had to reprogram the control unit so the headlights and taillights work more like those on a regular street car.
This amazing ride is truly one of a kind and Porsche is obviously proud of making it. Created to honor the Count Rossi 917, the 963 RSP will be making some public appearances. The first will be at the Circuit de la Sarthe during the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
From there it goes to the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart. Then in July it will be at the Goodwood Festival of Speed along with the Porsche 917.
Images via Porsche
