Porsche 963 RSP: The Ultimate Race Car for the Road?

For decades, the gap between street-legal cars and race cars has grown wider, especially since the 1960s when Le Mans prototypes began to diverge from production vehicles. These days, the cars at the front of the Le Mans grid resemble Formula One machines more than anything you would find on a dealership floor. That is exactly why the Porsche 963 RSP is so astonishing. It is a fully functional Le Mans Daytona hybrid race car that has been carefully adapted for limited road use—complete with a French license plate.

This idea came to life following a conversation during the Petit Le Mans season finale last year, where Porsche executives looked for a special way to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the road-going 917 made for Count Rossi. That car was a genuine race car given license plates and driven around town. So, the concept of doing something similar with the modern-day 963 was born.

The project, dubbed a “submarine” project in Germany due to its secretive nature, was designed to keep things under the radar. The team realized early on that a street-homologated 963 would require heavy modifications and likely ruin the essence of the original. So instead, they decided to build a single example as close to the race version as possible, with allowances made to legally drive it on public roads.

Porsche partnered with Porsche Penske Motorsport for this build, and they agreed that Roger Penske would be the perfect recipient. The initials RSP stand for Roger Searle Penske. Porsche Motorsport in Germany supplied a brand-new chassis, while the design and craftsmanship were handled by Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur and Porsche Cars North America in Atlanta, Georgia. The car was built behind temporary walls to keep it hidden from other employees.

To make it drivable, Porsche adjusted suspension settings and other systems to soften the driving experience while preserving the spirit of the 963 race car. According to Jonathan Diuguid, managing director at Porsche Penske Motorsport, the Atlanta restoration group delivered an exceptional level of fit and finish far above race car standards.

Unlike the raw carbon fiber and vinyl wrap of race versions, this 963 RSP received smooth, painted bodywork in Martini Silver—just like the original 917 for Count Rossi. The interior features tan Alcantara, leather accents on the steering wheel, and even a removable 3D-printed cupholder.

Some body modifications were necessary, such as covering the massive wheel-well vents required for racing and adding license plate mounts. Still, the overall form remains faithful to the race car. It is powered by a 4.6-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 engine paired with a spec hybrid system from Bosch and an XTrac seven-speed sequential transmission. The hybrid battery is an 800-volt lithium-ion unit from Fortescue Zero, mounted directly to the carbon fiber tub.

This engine has roots in the Porsche 918 Spyder and RS Spyder from the 2000s, sharing about 80 percent of its components with the hypercar. That lineage made it slightly easier to adapt for public roads, but calibrating it to run on standard pump fuel still presented challenges. Porsche also refined the hybrid power delivery for smoother low-speed use.

Although Porsche does not publish an exact power figure for this version, the race car produces around 700 horsepower. The RSP rides on the same treaded Michelin rain tires used in endurance races, mounted to 18-inch OZ wheels. The ride height is as high as practical, and the dampers are tuned for comfort, though do not expect a plush ride.

Yes, it has a horn and blinkers. But starting it requires a laptop and technical know-how, so Roger Penske will need his team to help get it moving. Luckily, he owns both a race team and a track.

Porsche received permission to drive the 963 RSP on public roads in Le Mans using special test vehicle plates. Timo Bernhard, Porsche brand ambassador, drove it alongside the original 917, calling it one of the most surreal moments of his life.

Before Penske can take it home, the car will make appearances at Le Mans, the Porsche Museum, the Goodwood Festival of Speed, and Monterey Car Week. After that, the Captain finally takes delivery.

As for making more road-ready 963s, Porsche has no plans for another. But never say never.