The Porsche 963 RSP is an adaptation of its racing counterpart, which has already claimedpodiums in the FIA World Endurance Championship and the North American IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. If you were in or around Le Mans today, you may have spotted the beauty gliding through villages or in the streets of the old town.

The car is the result of collaboration between Porsche Penske Motorsport, Porsche Cars North America, and Roger Penske, whose initials are included in the name. The 963 RSP is inspired by the legendary 917 that belonged to Italian aristrocrat Count Rossi – well-known to classic car enthusiasts. Derived from the model that won the 1970 24 Hours of Le Mans, the count’s road-legal 917 was built in 1975. Registered in Switzerland, the car was regularly driven by the count, heir to Martini & Rossi, of Martini Racing fame. Who has never seen that livery?

Horn and cupholder

The Porsche 963 RSP is somewhat different to its elder sister. It sports the ‘Martini’ silver paint, a reworked body and a tan leather and Alcantara interior to mirror the one chosen by Count Rossi fifty years ago.
Indicators and brake lights, a higher suspension, less extreme wet-weather tyres, a slight tweaking of the bodywork, and a horn make the model worthy of a temporary license plate from French authorities. There’s even a detachable cupholder.

“That was an experience that will stay with me for a lifetime,” said Timo Bernhard, who was at the wheel of the 963 RSP for its first miles on the road. “Driving down a public road with a 917 beside me – it felt unreal. The car behaved perfectly – it felt a little friendlier and more forgiving than the normal 963 – and felt super special and a lot more comfortable, especially as I was not needing all my safety gear.”

The Porsche 963 RSP will be presented at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (11-15 juin 2025) before returning to Stuttgart to be displayed in the Porsche museum. In July it will head to the UK with the Porsche 917 for the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Feast your eyes on our photos of today’s outing!