Porsche RS Spyder
The RS Spyder (Type 9R6) is a racing car designed by Porsche in conjunction with Penske to compete in Le Mans Prototype Class 2 (LMP2) racing. The car takes its name from the legendary Porsche 550 Spyder of the 1950s (combined with Porsche's common "RennSport" (lit.: racing sports) designation). The car marked Porsche's first return to the top level of sports prototype racing since the firm abandoned its Porsche LMP in 1999.
| Category | Le Mans Prototype | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constructor | Porsche Penske (team) | ||||||||
| Designer(s) | Michael Mauer (styling) Michael Pfadenhauer (aerodynamicist) Dieter Steinhauser (engineer, mechanical) Thomas Laudenbach (engine designer) | ||||||||
| Predecessor | Porsche LMP1-98 (LMP), Porsche 911 GT1-98 (LM-GT1), Porsche LMP2000 (cancelled LMP) | ||||||||
| Successor | Porsche 919 Hybrid (LMP1) Porsche 963 (LMDh) | ||||||||
| Technical specifications | |||||||||
| Chassis | Carbon fibre monocoque with engine and gearbox as stressed members | ||||||||
| Suspension (front) | Independent four-way, spring/damper units activated by pushrods, adjustable torsion-bar springs, dampers and anti-roll bars | ||||||||
| Suspension (rear) | As front | ||||||||
| Length | 4,650 mm (183 in) | ||||||||
| Width | 2,000 mm (79 in) | ||||||||
| Height | 1,030 mm (41 in) | ||||||||
| Wheelbase | 2,900 mm (114 in) | ||||||||
| Engine | Porsche MR6 3,397 cc (3.4 L; 207.3 cu in) 90-degree V8 normally aspirated, 32-valve, DOHC, four-valves per cylinder mid-engine, longitudinally mounted | ||||||||
| Transmission | GR6 6-speed electro-pneumatic actuated paddle-shift sequential gearbox Mechanical locking differential plus traction control | ||||||||
| Weight | 825 kg (1,819 lb) | ||||||||
| Fuel | EPIC Ethanol E10 + VP Racing Fuels unleaded gasoline 90%/ExxonMobil unleaded | ||||||||
| Lubricants | Mobil 1 | ||||||||
| Tyres | Michelin, Dunlop | ||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||
| Notable entrants | / DHL Porsche Penske Racing Team Essex Horag Racing Dyson Racing Van Merksteijn Motorsport Muscle Milk Team Cytosport Team Goh | ||||||||
| Notable drivers | Hélio Castroneves Ryan Briscoe Lucas Luhr Timo Bernhard Romain Dumas Emmanuel Collard Fredy Lienhard Jos Verstappen Jeroen Bleekemolen Sascha Maassen Didier Theys Patrick Long Marino Franchitti Guy Smith Andy Wallace Jan Lammers Butch Leitzinger Chris Dyson Andy Lally | ||||||||
| Debut | 2005 Monterey Sports Car Championships at Laguna Seca | ||||||||
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| Teams' Championships | 4 (American Le Mans 2006, 2007, 2008 & Le Mans Series 2008) LMP2 | ||||||||
| Constructors' Championships | 4 (American Le Mans 2006, 2007, 2008 & Le Mans Series 2008) LMP2 | ||||||||
| Drivers' Championships | 4 (American Le Mans 2006, 2007, 2008 & Le Mans Series 2008) LMP2 | ||||||||
The RS Spyder made its debut in the final event of the 2005 American Le Mans Series (ALMS) at Laguna Seca winning its class. Since then the RS Spyder has won the ALMS LMP2 Championship in 2006, 2007 and 2008 and took class honours at Le Mans in 2008 and 2009. The outright victory at the 2008 12 Hours of Sebring was the first major victory for Porsche in endurance racing for five years and it was also the first time in 14 years that the non-premier class won the 12 Hours of Sebring overall. Regulation changes for the 2011 season rendered the RS Spyder obsolete but the car has left a legacy in the Porsche 918 Spyder, which uses a development of the RS Spyder's engine and the Porsche 919 Hybrid which carried Porsche's racing program on into the LMP1 category starting in 2014.