The world of motorsports is celebrating the return of a legend today. Porsche has unveiled the 963 RSP hypercar, coinciding with preparations for the Le Mans 24 Hours race. This is not just a new car; it's a bridge between past and future, a link between the racetrack and the street, a kind of mobile work of art.
The project was born from a simple question asked at a meeting at Road Atlanta: "What if?" The idea was encouraged and developed by Roger Penske and Jonathan Diouguid, Managing Director of Porsche Penske Motorsport. Roger Penske himself was named as the commissioner for the project, which is how the 963 RSP got its name, reflecting his initials. This hypercar also pays tribute to a daring journey from 50 years ago: on April 28, 1975, a unique Porsche 917 — the only one of its kind — left the Weissach engineering office. It wasn't headed for a racetrack, like every 917 before it, but instead, for the very first time, it set off for Paris on public roads. It was a bold adventure, driven by the passion of Count Rossi, a private commissioner, and the dedication of a small team at Porsche, aiming to fulfill customer wishes, no matter how unusual.
The design process, led by the Sonderwunsch team in Zuffenhausen and colleagues from Porsche Classic in Atlanta, aimed to bring the 963 as close as possible to the spirit and appearance of the 917. Grant Larson, Director of Special Projects at Style Porsche, presented the 963 RSP's exterior in a silver and black palette, while the interior was chosen with a mix of brown leather and Alcantara. This combination is precisely what Count Rossi's 917 had. A particular challenge was the paintwork, as the hypercar's body is made of Kevlar and carbon. These materials made painting it difficult. The 963 RSP's exterior was painted in "Martini Silver" and covered with a triple layer of lacquer. The shapes of the front and rear aerodynamic vents are maximally similar to the Porsche 917. Also, on the hood, instead of the traditional 963 graphics, an enameled Porsche logo was placed.
The 963 RSP's interior offers significantly more comfort compared to the racing 963. The interior is fully trimmed in leather, giving the car not only prestige and comfort but also a unique inner poetry that transforms it into a blended work of art and technology. Deep amber leather creates a warm contrast with the dark carbon frames. The soft surfaces seem to protect the driver from inside the car — like a wizard's robe radiating energy. The carbon seats, like the racing version, are air-conditioned. The hypercar's steering wheel is no longer just a functional driving instrument — it becomes the conductor's baton for a technological orchestra, where every button has its own score. Also notable is a removable 3D-printed cup holder in the cabin, designed to fit a Porsche travel mug.
The car's ground clearance has been increased to the maximum to avoid obstacles on the roads. The Multimatic DSSV shock absorbers, designed for racing prototypes, are set to their softest position to ensure comfortable travel on city streets. The Engine Control Unit (ECU) was modified to adapt the turn indicators and headlights for road mode. As for the engine, the hypercar is equipped with a hybrid V8 engine that produces 680 horsepower.
The Porsche 963 RSP will make its public debut for the first time during the Le Mans 24 Hours race, on the historic Sarthe track, where time and speed battle each other. After its appearance, the car will return to its sacred place in Stuttgart, the Porsche Museum. In July, it will once again burst into view — this time at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, alongside the legendary 917. The Porsche 963 RSP represents an example of merging technological heritage with modern innovations, reflecting Porsche's commitment to continuing and developing the history of motorsport within the civilian vehicle segment.
