Porsche RS Spyder

Porsche RS Spyder
Picture of bright yellow and red RS Spyder racing car in a museum
CategoryLe Mans Prototype
ConstructorPorsche
Penske (team)
Designer(s)Michael Mauer (styling)
Michael Pfadenhauer (aerodynamicist)
Dieter Steinhauser (engineer, mechanical)
Thomas Laudenbach (engine designer)
PredecessorPorsche LMP1-98 (LMP),
Porsche 911 GT1-98 (LM-GT1),
Porsche LMP2000 (cancelled LMP)
SuccessorPorsche 919 Hybrid (LMP1)
Porsche 963 (LMDh)
Technical specifications
ChassisCarbon 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
Length4,650 mm (183 in)
Width2,000 mm (79 in)
Height1,030 mm (41 in)
Wheelbase2,900 mm (114 in)
EnginePorsche 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
TransmissionGR6 6-speed electro-pneumatic actuated paddle-shift sequential gearbox Mechanical locking differential plus traction control
Weight825 kg (1,819 lb)
FuelEPIC Ethanol E10 + VP Racing Fuels unleaded gasoline 90%/ExxonMobil unleaded
LubricantsMobil 1
TyresMichelin, Dunlop[1]
Competition history
Notable entrantsGermany/United States DHL Porsche Penske Racing
Denmark Team Essex
Switzerland Horag Racing
United States Dyson Racing
Netherlands Van Merksteijn Motorsport
United States Muscle Milk Team Cytosport
Japan Team Goh
Notable driversBrazil Hélio Castroneves
Australia Ryan Briscoe
Germany Lucas Luhr
Germany Timo Bernhard
France Romain Dumas
France Emmanuel Collard
Switzerland Fredy Lienhard
Netherlands Jos Verstappen
Netherlands Jeroen Bleekemolen
Germany Sascha Maassen
Belgium Didier Theys
United States Patrick Long
United Kingdom Marino Franchitti
United Kingdom Guy Smith
United Kingdom Andy Wallace
Netherlands Jan Lammers
United States Butch Leitzinger
United States Chris Dyson
United States Andy Lally
Debut2005 Monterey Sports Car Championships at Laguna Seca
RacesWinsPolesF/Laps
63131012
Teams' Championships4 (American Le Mans 2006, 2007, 2008 & Le Mans Series 2008) LMP2
Constructors' Championships4 (American Le Mans 2006, 2007, 2008 & Le Mans Series 2008) LMP2
Drivers' Championships4 (American Le Mans 2006, 2007, 2008 & Le Mans Series 2008) LMP2

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.[2] 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.

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.

  1. ^ Porsche RS Spyder Archived 12 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine Le Mans Series website Retrieved 17 July 2010
  2. ^ "2007 - Porsche RS Spyder". Porsche. Archived from the original on 11 September 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2012.

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