Porsche RS Spyder

The RS Spyder was designed completely in-house by Porsche engineers with help from Carbotech. The chassis is a rigid carbon fibre monocoque with both the engine and transmission being integral stressed members. The 3.4-litre 90-degree V8 racing engine was designed from scratch as was the six-speed electro-pneumatic sequential gearbox. Braking is via six-piston aluminum monobloc calipers and carbon ceramic discs, mounted on suspension controlled by four-way adjustable spring/damper units activated by pushrods with adjustable torsion-bar springs. The car has a dry weight of {{convert|825|kg}} in 2010 specification but was initially {{convert|750|kg}}.

Since its introduction in 2005, the engine, which initially produced {{convert|478|hp}}, has been developed and modified to meet the changing regulations of both the ALMS and the ACO. For 2008, the engine developed {{convert|503|hp}} using sequential multipoint inject and {{convert|440|hp}} in 2009-spec, with air restrictor limitations.

File:Penske Porsche Long Beach.jpg

The RS Spyder made its race debut at the final round of the 2005 American Le Mans Series, the Monterey Sports Car Championship at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, entered by Penske Racing and driven by Lucas Luhr and Sascha Maassen from the Porsche Junioren factory team. The sole RS Spyder finished first in class and fifth overall.[http://www.imsaracing.net/2003/events/lagunaseca05/ALMS_OfficialRace.pdf 2005 Monterey SportsCar Championship Race Results] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061110072857/http://www.imsaracing.net/2003/events/lagunaseca05/ALMS_OfficialRace.pdf |date=10 November 2006 }} International Motor Sports Association 15 October 2005 Retrieved 17 March 2010

During 2006, Penske entered two RS Spyders in the ALMS and won seven class victories including an outright victory at the Mid-Ohio race.[http://www.imsaracing.net/2006/events/midohio/ALMS_OfficialRace.pdf 2006 Mid-Ohio Race Results] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061110072832/http://www.imsaracing.net/2006/events/midohio/ALMS_OfficialRace.pdf |date=10 November 2006 }} International Motor Sports Association 21 May 2006 Retrieved 17 March 2010 This was the first LMP2 victory in a race since 2003 and the first major result for Porsche since the 1998 24 Hours of Le Mans. The results ensure victory for Penske in the LMP2 Championship and also for Sascha Maassen in the drivers' standings.[http://www.americanlemans.com/results/2006/2006_LMP2.pdf 2006 ALMS LMP2 Results] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224123717/http://www.americanlemans.com/results/2006/2006_LMP2.pdf |date=24 February 2012 }} ALMS Website Retrieved 17 March 2010{{Cite web|url=https://www.supercars.net/blog/2006-porsche-rs-spyder/|title=2006 Porsche RS Spyder | Porsche|date=27 April 2016}}

For 2007, Porsche unveiled the 2007-spec RS Spyder (known as the RS Spyder Evo), which included an increase in power to {{convert|503|hp}}.{{cite web |url=http://www.supercars.net/cars/3578.html |title=2007 Porsche RS Spyder Evo |work=supercars.net |access-date=26 February 2012}} Dyson Racing joined Penske in the ALMS. 2007 would be the most successful year for the RS Spyder with Penske repeating their outright victory in the ALMS series a further eight times and also securing an additional three class victories.{{cite web |url=http://www.americanlemans.com/results/2007/2007_P2.pdf |title=2007 AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL POINT STANDINGS |work=American Le Mans Series |access-date=25 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224123725/http://www.americanlemans.com/results/2007/2007_P2.pdf |archive-date=24 February 2012 }} Penske again won the LMP2 class in ALMS and Romain Dumas won the LMP2 Drivers Championship. During the season the RS Spyder won eight races while the Audi R10 TDI from the largest P1 class won only four.[http://www.americanlemans.com/results/2007/2007_P2.pdf 2007 ALMS LMP2 Results] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224123725/http://www.americanlemans.com/results/2007/2007_P2.pdf |date=24 February 2012 }} ALMS Website Retrieved 17 March 2010

Rule changes increased the RS Spyder's weight to 825 kg{{cite web|url=http://www.porsche.com/usa/eventsandracing/motorsport/racing/alms/|title=American Le Mans Series|work=Porsche|access-date=26 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120122002815/http://www.porsche.com/usa/eventsandracing/motorsport/racing/alms/|archive-date=22 January 2012|url-status=live}} and Porsche introduce a new direct injection engine developing {{convert|503|hp}}.{{cite web |url=http://www.porsche.com/usa/eventsandracing/motorsport/racing/alms/news/?pool=motorsport&id=c55244a7-8c51-4072-a6e7-91b10c9634d5&lang=en-us |title=Dumas/Bernhard Win LMP2 with new Porsche RS Spyder Engine |work=Porsche |access-date=26 February 2012}} A Penske car driven by Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas, and Emmanuel Collard, secured the overall victory at the 2008 12 Hours of Sebring, winning it on the 20th anniversary of Porsche's last overall win at the race.[http://www.americanlemans.com/results/2008/2008_01SebringALMSResults.pdf 2008 ALMS 12 Hours of Sebring Results] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206050936/http://www.americanlemans.com/results/2008/2008_01SebringALMSResults.pdf |date=6 December 2010 }} ALMS Website Retrieved 17 March 2010 Penske had another outright victory at the Utah Grand Prix and also recorded an additional three class wins. At Petit Le Mans a 3rd RS Spyder was entered by Penske in an attempt to lock out the manufacturers' championship against Acura. Penske won both the LMP2 Team and drivers' championship for Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas. Porsche won the manufacturers' championship by 1 point ahead of Acura.[http://www.americanlemans.com/results/2008/2008_P2.pdf 2008 ALMS LMP2 Results] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224123742/http://www.americanlemans.com/results/2008/2008_P2.pdf |date=24 February 2012 }} ALMS Website Retrieved 17 March 2010

Danish Team Essex together with Van Merksteijn Motorsport of The Netherlands and Horag Racing of Switzerland participate in the Le Mans Series (LMS) all with 2008-spec RS Spyder. Team Essex and Van Merksteijn also entered the 24 Hours of Le Mans, marking the debut for the RS Spyder at the event. An RS Spyder from Van Merksteijn Motorsport driven by Jeroen Bleekemolen, Peter van Merksteijn and Jos Verstappen, came first in class and 10th overall with the Essex team coming second in class (12th overall).{{cite web |url=http://www.crash.net/le+mans/results/142055/1/race_results__le_mans_24_hours.html |title= Le Mans 24 Hours – Race results (2008)|work=crash.net |date= 15 June 2008|access-date=16 January 2012}} A RS Spyder won its class in every LMS race giving it a 1-2-3 in the LMP2 standing and securing the drivers championship for Jos Verstappen and the Team championship for Van Merksteijn Motorsport.

New restrictor rules brought the RS Spyder's power down to approximately {{convert|440|hp}},{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/racing/racing/alms/columns/story?id=6682465 |title=ALMS: Growing pains for Muscle Milk |work=ESPN |date=20 June 2011 |access-date=26 February 2012}} and the wingspan was limited by the rules, effectively decreasing downforce.[http://www.michelinalley.com/Issues/2010_06_Alley_Mid_Ohio.pdf Michelin Alley Mid Ohio 2010]{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Retrieved 24 February 2012

Penske did not compete in the ALMS in 2009 but Team CytoSport, who had previously competed in LMP1 in 2007, purchased an ex-Dyson Racing RS Spyder[http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/alms-cytosport-returns-to-alms-with-porsche-rs-spyder/ Cytosport Returns With Porsche RS Spyder] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100310021853/http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/alms-cytosport-returns-to-alms-with-porsche-rs-spyder |date=10 March 2010 }} Speed TV Website 20 June 2009 Retrieved 17 March 2010 and took part in four races with a best result of second in class at Road America.[http://www.americanlemans.com/results/2009/2009_07RoadAmericaResults.pdf 2009 ALMS Road America Results] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206050503/http://www.americanlemans.com/results/2009/2009_07RoadAmericaResults.pdf |date=6 December 2010 }} ALMS Website Retrieved 17 March 2010

In LMS, Team Essex only competed in the 1000 km race at Spa taking the class victory and also securing the class victory at Le Mans, finishing 10th overall with Casper Elgaard, Kristian Poulsen and Emmanuel Collard at the wheel. Team Goh also took part in the race with an ex-Van Merksteijn Motorsport car.{{cite web|url=http://www.crash.net/le+mans/results/148342/1/le_mans_24_hours__race_results.html|title=Le Mans 24 Hours – Race results (2009)|work=crash.net|access-date=16 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100623014722/http://www.crash.net/le+mans/results/148342/1/le_mans_24_hours__race_results.html|archive-date=23 June 2010|url-status=live}}

CytoSport announced in February 2010 that it would contest the full ALMS in a RS Spyder.[http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81527 CytoSport to do full ALMS season] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100220051235/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81527 |date=20 February 2010 }} Autosport Website 10 February 2010 Retrieved 17 March 2010 It was also announced that Sascha Maassen would join the regular drivers Klaus Graf and Greg Pickett at the longer races at Sebring, Laguna Seca and Road Atlanta.[http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81592 Maassen to rejoin CytoSport] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100222231919/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81592 |date=22 February 2010 }} Autosport Website 19 February 2010 Retrieved 17 March 2010 Cytosport used a full-width rear wing for the entire season, unlike arch-rivals Highcroft HPD. The CytoSport RS Spyder won the LMP2 class at the 12 Hours of Sebring[http://www.americanlemans.com/files/results/2010/ALMS%20Sebring%20Prov%20Race.pdf 2010 12 Hours of Sebring Results] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100331203153/http://americanlemans.com/files/results/2010/ALMS%20Sebring%20Prov%20Race.pdf |date=31 March 2010 }} American Le Mans Website 2010 12 Hours of Sebring provisional results and took their first outright victory at Northeast Grand Prix at Lime Rock.{{cite web | url = http://americanlemans.com/files/results/2010/ALMS%20Lime%20Rock%20Final%20Race.pdf | title = ALMS Lime Rock Final Results | publisher = International Motor Sports Association | date = 24 July 2010 | access-date = 24 July 2010 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110707133212/http://americanlemans.com/files/results/2010/ALMS%20Lime%20Rock%20Final%20Race.pdf | archive-date = 7 July 2011 }} CytoSport continued their winning success by taking outright victory at a shortened race at Mosport.{{cite news|url=http://www.americanlemans.com/files/results/2010/ALMS%20Mosport%20Final%20Race.pdf|title=Mosport Final Race Results|work=americanlemans.com|date=29 August 2010|access-date=30 August 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101010230652/http://www.americanlemans.com/files/results/2010/ALMS%20Mosport%20Final%20Race.pdf|archive-date=10 October 2010}} They also finished the season second behind Patrón Highcroft Racing in the championship and Klaus Graf finished second in the drivers' standings.{{cite web|url=http://www.americanlemans.com/files/results/2010/2010%20Points.pdf|title=FINAL CHAMPIONSHIP POINT STANDINGS|work=American Le Mans Series|publisher=International Motor Sports Association|access-date=7 October 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101015144257/http://americanlemans.com/files/results/2010/2010%20Points.pdf|archive-date=15 October 2010}}

No RS Spyders were entered in the 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans. The 2011 LMP2 regulations rendered the RS Spyder obsolete due to the costs exceeding the LMP2 budget limit.{{cite web |url=http://www.racecar-engineering.com/articles/sportscar/10-cars-you-will-not-see-at-le-mans-in-2011/ |title=Racecar Engineering - 10 cars you will not see at LeMans in 2011 |access-date=24 February 2012 |date=June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111124033210/http://www.racecar-engineering.com/articles/sportscar/10-cars-you-will-not-see-at-le-mans-in-2011/ |archive-date=24 November 2011 |url-status=live }}

File:Penske_RS_Spyders_at_Laguna.jpg|alt=Two bright yellow racing sports cars on a race track taking a left hand corner|Both of Penske Racing's Porsche RS Spyders at the 2007 Monterey Sports Car Championships.

File:Cockpit porsche.jpg|alt=A view of the cockpit of a Porsche RS Spyder racing car showing the dashboard and steering wheel|Cockpit of Porsche RS Spyder.

File:Porsche 9R6 RS Spyder - engine, gearbox and rear axle.jpg|alt=A view of the engine, gearbox and rear axle of a Porsche RS Spyder|Porsche MR6 3.4 Litre V8 engine, GR6 gearbox and the rear axle with drive shafts and wishbones.

File:Horag_RS_Spyder_Front.jpg|alt=A view of a red and white sports car on a racing track|Didier Theys at the wheel of Horag Racing's Porsche RS Spyder at the 2008 1000km of Silverstone.

File:Porsche RS Spyder in Spa 2009.jpg|alt=A view of a bright blue race car with the word Essex clear to read on the side|Emmanuel Collard drives a Porsche RS Spyder of Team Essex in Spa 2009.

File:Porsche RS Spyder Evo Muscle Milk Team Cytosport.jpg|alt=Side view of #6 white sports racing car with the words Muscle Milk on the side|Sebring LMP2 class winner. Muscle Milk Team Cytosport Porsche RS Spyder Evo.

File:2008OverallWinner12Hoursof SebringPenskePorsche7.jpg|The overall winner of the 2008 12 Hours of Sebring.

File:Penske Racing Porsche RS Spyder Evo - Winner 2007 Grand Prix of Mosport.jpg|Porsche RS Spyder EVO at the 2007 Grand Prix of Mosport

* Bold indicates pole position

* Italic indicates the fastest lap

• Porsche racing models
• Porsche in motorsport

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category|Porsche RS Spyder}}

• [http://www.porsche.com Official Porsche website]
• [http://www.porsche.com/germany/sportandevents/motorsport/history/racingcars/2000s/2007-rsspyder/ RS Spyder at official Porsche site (German)]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20150907030023/http://www2.penskeracing.com/ Penske Racing]

{{Porsche vehicles}}

{{good article}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Porsche Rs Spyder}}

Category:Le Mans Prototypes

Category:24 Hours of Le Mans race cars

Category:Sports prototypes

Rs Spyder

Category:Team Penske