Unique Porsche 963 RSP makes its debut in the hands of Roger Penske on American tracks

Fifty years after a Porsche 917 traveled French roads from Zuffenhausen to Paris, Roger Penske completed a similar ritual behind the wheel of the 963 RSP, a racing prototype converted for road use that bears his initials. The connection between both events is no accident: Porsche's Sonderwunsch department created this unique specimen following the same bold principle from 1975, when chassis number 30 of the 917 made that legendary journey with minimal modifications.

From Le Mans to Atlanta

The 963 RSP had debuted months earlier on the roads near the Circuit de la Sarthe, with Timo Bernhard at the wheel. "Driving on a public road with a 917 rolling next to me felt unreal," Bernhard recalled about that day in France. After exhibitions in Austria and Goodwood, the silver prototype arrived in the United States for its most anticipated meeting.

Photo By Porsche

At the South Track of the Porsche Experience Centre in Atlanta, Penske turned his first laps in the car created in his honor. Technicians used the session to verify the systems after the European tour. "An experience that will stay with me," stated the president of Penske Corporation, whose partnership with Porsche spans six decades.

Laguna Seca: Extended Test

WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, future site of a Porsche Driving Centre in 2026, served as the second stage. Bruce Canepa, a member of the local board of directors, shared the track with Patrick Long, who drove the RS Spyder for Penske between 2006 and 2008.

"It seems intimidating initially, but it becomes agile and responsive," analyzed Long. "The steering transmits a lot of information and the forward visibility is excellent. The suspension allows for a civilized ride on the road. I just wanted to keep on driving."

Photo By Porsche

Engineering for Two Worlds

The 963, based on the WEC and IMSA prototypes, underwent profound transformations. Sonderwunsch applied Martini Silver paint identical to the 1975 917 onto the carbon fiber and Kevlar bodywork, a complex process given the material's thinness to save weight. The cabin combines leather and Alcantara in earth tones, replicating the choices of the historic 917.

Mechanical adjustments allowed for use with standard pump gas: softened dampers, raised suspension height, and reprogrammed electronics. Turn signals, Michelin rain tires, and a horn completed the legal requirements for driving on temporary French license plates, thanks to support from the Automobile Club de l'Ouest.

Photo By Porsche

Private Collection

Timo Resch, CEO of Porsche Cars North America and conceptualizer of the project, watched Penske take the wheel. "This project started as a 'what if?' among Penske and Porsche enthusiasts imagining a version of the 963 that captured the spirit of Count Rossi's 917," explained Resch. "The 917 from history was a pure race car driven on the road, and we took the same approach with the 963 RSP."

After its exhibition during Monterey Car Week, the silver prototype found its permanent home in Penske's collection, where it shares space with decades of rolling history from American motorsport.