[Dippy]

It was exactly 50 years ago when Porsche had turned a mid-engined endurance racing car into a street-legal machine. The flat-12 powered 917 was built specially for a customer who wanted to drive the vehicle on public roads.

Porsche is now planning something big along the same lines. The carmaker released a teaser video of what looks to be a street-legal version of its Le Mans 963 endurance racing car.

The road going 917, chassis number 30, used to race before Porsche converted it for road use by Italian businessman and Martine heir Gregorio Rossi di Montelera. It was repainted in Martini Silver, and additions like side indicators, a horn, mufflers, and a spare tyre were made. The seats got tan leather from Hermes, while the rest of the cabin was finished in suede. The car was recently completely restored and used by the current owner. The video shows a teaser silhouette at the end, what appears to be a 963. The video ends with a question: What if?

It remains to be seen whether the new car will again be a one-off for a special customer or have a limited production run of a few units.

Porsche has confirmed that the new car will be revealed in June this year.

Source: Motor1

Link to Team BHP news

[FlankerFury]

'Street legal' Porsche 963RSP one-off unveiled

Named after its owner, Roger Searle Penske, founder and owner of Penske Corporation.



The 963RSP began life as a brand new Multimatic chassis that was converted by a team of experts at Porsche Motorsport headquarters in Germany and then finished at the Porsche Classic Factory Restoration in the USA.

On the exterior front, Porsche designers envisioned a 963 that'd remain as close as possible to the original, Count Rossi's road legal 917's, "Martini Silver' and black color palette. As was the case with the original, the Kevlar and carbon fibre bodywork was painted rather than wrapped.

Bodywork changes include unique fender vents to cover the otherwise open vents to channel the air out of wheel wells. On the nose, an enamel Porsche badge replaces the graphic that's applied to conventional 963's.

It rolls on 18in rain spec Michelin tires mounted on forged OZ racing wheels. Finishing touches to exteriors include mounting points for front and rear license plates.



The interiors of 963RSP features a mix of soft tan leather and Alcantara . The single set cabin includes a carbon fibre seat trimmed in leather with soft cushioning down the centre and a fixed headrest on the carbon fibre bulkhead for improved driver comfort.
The roof lining and pillars have been retrimmed in light Alcantara while the multifunction steering wheel has been finished in leather.
It also includes provision for mounting a 3D printed cup holder, able to securely hold a Porsche travel mug.



Next to the driver, are locations to store the driver's headset, custom carbon fibre helmet when not in use, and a platform for a laptop that starts and assists in the operation of the car.
Interior trims such as the end plates of ventilation system mimics the styling of the fan on top of 917's flat 12 engine.



Mechanical changes include raising the ride height and setting the adjustable Multimatic suspension to its softest setting for road use.
The control unit was modified to allow the operation of turn signals, headlights and taillights.

The 4.6L twin turbocharged V8 engine, paired to an 800V, 1.35kWh battery to form a hybrid system for a combined 680hp retains the race tune, but the MGU was remapped to deliver its power in a linear fashion. The ICE was tuned to run on regular pump gas instead of race spec biofuel.







The 963RSP will be on public display at this year's 24hrs of Le Mans at Circuit de la Sarthe, Le Mans. It'll also be shown at Goodwood Festival of Speed alongside Count Rossi's 917.
It will then be returned to the US and formally handed over to Penske at Monterey Car Week.


Count Rossi's 'street legal' Porsche 917, chassis number 030





Porsche Newsroom | 963RSP one-off