On October 12, a small group within Porsche Cars North America quietly embarked on an ambitious idea: Could they build a road-ready version of the Porsche 963, a purebred Le Mans Daytona hybrid (LMDh) race car? The result of this covert effort, internally dubbed a “submarine project” for its secrecy, is the Porsche 963 RSP—an astonishing one-off that blurs the line between track and tarmac.
Unlike previous Porsche supercars, the 963 RSP isn’t a diluted street version; it’s the real deal, refined just enough to wear license plates. Named after Roger Searle Penske, the legendary motorsport figure and the car’s eventual owner, the 963 RSP was created with deep collaboration between Porsche Cars North America, Porsche Penske Motorsport, and Porsche Exclusiv Manufaktur.
Design, Engineering, and the Pursuit of Authenticity
The RSP uses a freshly built chassis, not a repurposed race car tub. The body was hand-finished at Porsche’s Atlanta headquarters, behind temporary walls to maintain secrecy. The carbon-fiber panels, usually wrapped in vinyl for the race cars, were meticulously sanded and painted in Martini Silver, a nod to the iconic Count Rossi 917. Inside, the cockpit was trimmed in Alcantara and leather, echoing the 917’s original tan interior.
Designer Grant Larson and the restoration team made several changes to ensure the car would behave more like a road car without losing the DNA of the 963. The suspension, hybrid system, and controls were softened and tuned for street use, including custom aerodynamic tweaks to meet road safety regulations and house license plates.
Under the Skin: Race-Bred Power
The heart of the RSP is a twin-turbocharged 4.6-liter V8, developed from the Porsche 918 Spyder’s engine, itself a derivative of the RS Spyder LMP2 car. This is paired with an 800-volt hybrid system, a seven-speed XTrac sequential transmission, and Michelin rain tires mounted on OZ Racing wheels.
While Porsche hasn’t revealed the final power output, insiders estimate it’s close to the race car’s 700-horsepower mark. Adjustments were made to allow smoother hybrid deployment and calibration to run on standard pump fuel, a feat in itself for a prototype-level drivetrain.
A Rolling Homage on a Global Stage
Porsche received special permission to drive the 963 RSP on French roads during this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, with brand ambassador Timo Bernhard piloting it beside the legendary 917. “It felt surreal like time-traveling with two icons of Porsche history,” Bernhard shared.
The car will now make appearances at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Monterey Car Week, and finally, the Porsche Museum before Roger Penske takes possession.
Never Say Never
Porsche insists no additional units are planned, maintaining the RSP’s status as a one-off. But as Urs Kuratle, head of the LMDh program, teases, “As Porsche, we like to sell cars. If there’s an opportunity to do it again… why not?”
The 963 RSP is not just a celebration of engineering—it’s a symbol of Porsche’s relentless commitment to motorsport innovation, legacy, and a vision that dares to drive race cars on the road.
