CLASSIC NEVER DIES

Porsche 963 RSP Unveiled – A Le Mans Race Car for the Road

Silver Porsche 963 RSP and Count Rossi Porsche 917K on a highway — Count Rossi’s one-of-a-kind street legal 917K along side the Porsche 963 RSP.
Photo Credit: Porsche

Can a race car be modified to become street-legal? That was the question Count Rossi asked Porsche over 50 years ago, leading to the creation of a single, road-legal 917K—an icon that still roams the streets today. Now, it’s no longer alone. Porsche has unveiled the 963 RSP, a one-off roadgoing sibling to the IMSA and WEC championship-winning 963 Hypercar.

Porsche Penske Motorsport Red and White Porsche 963 at Laguna Seca — Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963 #6
Source: Porsche

Silver Porsche 963 RSP followed by a Porsche 917k — Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963 #6
Source: Porsche

The project began as a “what if?”—a reimagining of the 963 to honor the spirit of Count Rossi’s legendary 917. Roger Penske, Managing Director of Porsche Penske Motorsports, was selected as the sole customer for this exceptional vehicle, which has been named in his honor. Styled in Martini Silver with black accents, it mirrors the iconic look of the Count Rossi 917. While most endurance race cars are wrapped due to the difficulty of painting carbon fiber and Kevlar bodywork, Porsche took on that challenge and fully painted the 963 RSP, staying true to the craftsmanship this one-off deserves.

Silver Porsche 963 RSP and Porsche 917 on a race track — *Source: Porsche*

Inside, the RSP represents perhaps the most significant departure from the standard 963. Where endurance racers offer little in the way of comfort, the RSP—like the Count Rossi 917—features a luxurious interior trimmed in tan leather and Alcantara. It even includes a 3D-printed cupholder for a surprising touch of everyday usability.

Interior of Porsche 963 RSP — *Source: Porsche*

Mechanically, the car has been adapted for public roads. The suspension was raised to its maximum setting, and the Multimatic DSSV dampers were softened for a more compliant ride. The control unit was modified to allow the use of headlights and turn signals. Its 4.6-liter twin-turbocharged hybrid V8, producing 680 horsepower, remains in full race-spec, but the power delivery has been remapped for smoother performance. The powertrain has also been remapped to run on pump gas, another great difficult overcome by Porsche in bringing an endurance race car to the road.

Side view of Porsche 963 RSP — *Source: Porsche*

The Porsche 963 RSP, following in the footsteps of the Count Rossi 917, remains a one-of-one creation. It’s a forbidden fruit for all but its new owner—but that doesn’t mean we can’t admire it. This machine stands as a testament to Porsche’s ability to blend track-bred performance with road-going refinement, crafting a true race car for the road.