2007 Porsche RS Spyder Spyder

Porsche won the 1998 24 Hours of Le Mans with the 911 GT1. It would be nearly a decade before they would return to racing. During that time, they built the Type 9R6 - the RS Spyder - to compete in LeMans Prototype Class 2 (LMP2), rather than the top category of LMP1.

LMP1 competition favored diesel-powered entries and Porsche had no diesel models in production and little interest in utilizing the technology. Porsche also wanted to build a car that could be campaigned by privateers, including those in the U.S. market and IMSA's American LeMans Series (ALMS).

It took only a few months to go from design to production, and in June of 2005, the first RS Spyder was driven onto the Weissach test track. The purpose-built RS Spyder had a lightweight carbon fiber monocoque that used the engine and transaxle as integral, stressed members. The body was comprised of carbon fiber and Kevlar composites and its design was the result of extensive wind-tunnel testing. The engine was an all-new 3.4-liter four-cam V8 that had revved to 10,000 RPM and offered nearly 480 horsepower. The gearbox was a six-speed electropneumatic sequential unit that Porsche designed in-house. Large carbon ceramic disc brakes and a fully independent pushrod-activated suspension completed the package.

Porsche turned to the Penske Motorsports team to race its RS Spyder in ALMS competition. The RS Spyder made its competition debut at the 2005 season finale at Laguna Seca where it won the LMP2 class, set the third-fastest lap time and challenged the LMP1 leaders.

For the 2006 season, Penske's two cars won seven class victories including a 1-2 finish at Mid-Ohio. By the close of the season, the Driver, Chassis, Engine, and Team LMP2 titles went to Penske and Porsche.

For the 2007 season, Penske racing and Dyson Racing each campaigned two RS Spyders. Combined, they would score eight successive overall victories, including a 1-2-3 finish at Long Beach. They would also capture 11 class wins in just 12 races. For the second year in a row, all four LMP2 titles were earned by the RS Spyder.

2008 was another successful year for Porsche, with outright victories at the 12 Hours of Sebring and the Utah Grand Prix. Three additional class wins would help secure the LMP2 championship for the third consecutive year.

Despite stricter regulations in 2009 and 2010, the Porsches won at Lime Rock and Mosport, with class wins at Le Mans, Sebring, and Spa.

Between 2006 and 2008, Porsche built approximately 15 RS Spyders, including customer cars and test vehicles. They earned three consecutive ALMS championships, an overall victory at Sebring, and two class wins at Le Mans.

This particular example, chassis number 9R6.706, is the last of six examples produced for the 2007 season. It was built in February and March, then tested at Weissach before being delivered in April to its first owner, CET Solaroli Motorsports of Jacksonville, Florida.

In March of 2007, Solaroli Motorsports announced that it would be joining the ALMS, fielding two RS Spyders and a 997 RSR. Unfortunately, CET Solaroli Motorsports chose not to race in the ALMS and 9R6.706 was sold to the current owner. Since then, the car has seen little track time, aside from private test sessions and two historic races at Laguna Seca.

The car has been maintained by a professional race mechanic and serviced as needed.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2018