Porsche has created a unique version of the 963 hypercar

      What the motorsport press started writing about a month and a half ago has been confirmed: Porsche has indeed introduced a road version of its hypercar, which was originally created exclusively for endurance racing.

      The impressive car has been given the 963 RSP index, and its debut is timed to coincide with the upcoming 24 Hours of Le Mans marathon, which will take place next weekend. We told you that the historical roots of such a project are connected with the victory of Porsche in the legendary 1970 race, and yesterday two cars drove through the streets and roads of Le Mans: a unique copy of the 917 sports prototype, built 50 years ago by order of the Italian Count Gregorio Rossi di Monteler, and the newest Porsche 963 RSP car.

      It was created by Porsche Motorsport specialists, joining forces with the Porsche Penske team participating in the WEC. By the way, the letters RSP in the name of the road hypercar are the initials of the legendary Roger Penske, a former racing driver, now a successful entrepreneur and owner of teams competing in many championships – just mention IndyCar, WEC and Formula E.

      In fact, the car was built by Mr. Penske's personal order and exists in a single copy. It is equipped with all the necessary lighting equipment, i.e. turn indicators and brake lights, as well as an audible signal; it has a higher ground clearance than a racing hypercar, it has 18-inch all-weather tires with treads, and the interior is finished in expensive leather. Of course, there is a climate control system there too.

      Timo Berhard, a veteran of German motorsport, a former Porsche factory driver, and a three-time Le Mans winner, was entrusted to drive.

      "I will keep the memories of this experience for the rest of my life," he shared with delight. – When I was driving such a car on ordinary roads, and a Porsche 917 was driving next to me, I experienced completely unrealistic impressions. The car's behavior was perfect, somewhat friendlier compared to the usual hypercar 963, and it was much more comfortable to pilot, including because you didn't have to wear racing overalls and a helmet."

      The car is powered by a hybrid powerplant based on a 4.6-liter V8 engine from the 918 Spyder model, and together with the electrical part, it develops 671 hp.

      In the coming days, the Porsche 963 RSP will be displayed in the Sarthe Ring paddock while preparations for the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the marathon itself take place there (from June 11 to 15), after which it will take its place at the Porsche Factory Museum in Stuttgart. But this will not be her permanent home, and in July she will take part in the program of the traditional Festival of speed in the British Goodwood.

      When Urs Kuratle, director of the Porsche LMDh factory program, was asked if there was a chance that such a car would be mass-produced, he replied: "Of course, we will not build another one exactly like it, because that is the nature of this unique project. But... never say never. The task of Porsche is primarily to sell cars, and if there is an opportunity to repeat this experience a little later, then why not."