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Porsche RS Spyder

Porsche RS Spyder

Design

The RS Spyder was designed completely in-house by Porsche engineers. 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 caliper carbon-fibre brake mounted on suspension controlled by four-way, spring/damper units activated by pushrods with adjustable torsion-bar springs. The car has a dry weight of 825 kilograms (1,820 lb) in 2010 specification but was initially 750 kilograms (1,700 lb).

Since its introduction in 2005 the engine, which initially produced 478 horsepower (356 kW) has been developed and modified to meet the changing regulations of both the ALMS and the ACO. For 2008 the engine developed 503 horsepower (375 kW) using direct fuel injection and 440 horsepower (330 kW) in 2009-spec with air restrictor limitations.

Race results

Two Penske RS Spyders' at the 2008 Long Beach ALMS race

2005

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.

2006

During 2006, Penske entered two RS Spyders in the ALMS and won seven class victories including outright victory at the Mid-Ohio race. 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.

2007

For 2007, Porsche unveiled the 2007-spec RS Spyder (known as the RS Spyder Evo), which included an increase in power to 503 horsepower (375 kW). 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. 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.

2008

Rule changes increased the RS Spyder's weight to 825kg and Porsche introduce a new direct injection engine developing 503 horsepower (375 kW). 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. 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.

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. A 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). 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.

2009

New restrictor rules brought the RS Spyder's power down to approximately 440 horsepower (330 kW), and the wingspan was limited by the rules, effectively decreasing downforce.

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 and took part in four races with a best result of second in class at Road America.

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.

2010

CytoSport announced in February 2010 that it would contest the full ALMS in a RS Spyder. 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.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 and took their first outright victory at Northeast Grand Prix at Lime Rock. CytoSport continued their winning success by taking outright victory at a shorten race at Mosport. They also finished the season second behind Patrón Highcroft Racing in the championship and Klaus Graf finished second in the drivers' standings.

No RS Spyder's 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.

Gallery

Both of Penske Racing's Porsche RS Spyders at the 2007 Monterey Sports Car Championships.

Didier Theys at the wheel of Horag Racing's Porsche RS Spyder at the 2008 1000km of Silverstone.

Cockpit of Porsche RS Spyder.

Emmanuel Collard drives a Porsche RS Spyder of Team Essex in Spa 2009.

Sebring LMP2 class winner. Muscle Milk Team Cytosport Porsche RS Spyder Evo.

The overall winner of the 2008 12 Hours of Sebring.

Race victories

Year	Type	Championship	Race	Team	Drivers
2005	Class	ALMS	Monterey Sports Car Championships	Penske Racing	Lucas Luhr / Sascha Maassen
2006	Overall	ALMS	American Le Mans at Mid-Ohio	Penske Racing	Timo Bernhard / Romain Dumas
	Class	ALMS	New England Grand Prix	Penske Racing	Timo Bernhard / Romain Dumas
	Class	ALMS	Utah Grand Prix	Penske Racing	Lucas Luhr / Sascha Maassen
	Class	ALMS	Road America 500	Penske Racing	Sascha Maassen / Timo Bernhard
	Class	ALMS	Grand Prix of Mosport	Penske Racing	Lucas Luhr / Romain Dumas
	Class	ALMS	Petit Le Mans	Penske Racing	Sascha Maassen / Timo Bernhard /Emmanuel Collard
	Class	ALMS	Monterey Sports Car Championships	Penske Racing	Lucas Luhr / Romain Dumas
2007	Class	ALMS	Sports Car Challenge of St. Petersburg	Penske Racing	Sascha Maassen / Ryan Briscoe
	Overall	ALMS	ALMS Grand Prix of Long Beach	Penske Racing	Romain Dumas / Timo Bernhard
	Overall	ALMS	Lone Star Grand Prix	Penske Racing	Romain Dumas / Timo Bernhard
	Overall	ALMS	Utah Grand Prix	Penske Racing	Sascha Maassen / Ryan Briscoe
	Overall	ALMS	Northeast Grand Prix	Penske Racing	Sascha Maassen / Ryan Briscoe
	Overall	ALMS	Sports Car Challenge of Mid-Ohio	Penske Racing	Romain Dumas / Timo Bernhard
	Overall	ALMS	Road America 500	Penske Racing	Romain Dumas / Timo Bernhard
	Overall	ALMS	Grand Prix of Mosport	Penske Racing	Romain Dumas / Timo Bernhard
	Overall	ALMS	Detroit Sports Car Challenge	Penske Racing	Romain Dumas / Timo Bernhard
	Class	ALMS	Petit Le Mans	Penske Racing	Romain Dumas / Timo Bernhard / Patrick Long
	Class	ALMS	Monterey Sports Car Championships	Penske Racing	Romain Dumas / Timo Bernhard
2008	Overall	ALMS	12 Hours of Sebring	Penske Racing	Romain Dumas / Timo Bernhard / Emmanuel Collard
	Class	ALMS	Sports Car Challenge of St. Petersburg	Penske Racing	Romain Dumas / Timo Bernhard
	Class	ELMS	1000 km of Catalunya	Van Merksteijn Motorsport	Peter van Merksteijn, Sr. / Jos Verstappen
	Class	ELMS	1000 km of Monza	Team Essex	Casper Elgaard / John Nielsen
	Class	ELMS	1000 km of Spa	Van Merksteijn Motorsport	Peter van Merksteijn, Sr. / Jos Verstappen
	Overall	ALMS	Utah Grand Prix	Penske Racing	Romain Dumas / Timo Bernhard
	Class	ELMS	24 Hours of Le Mans	Van Merksteijn Motorsport	Peter van Merksteijn / Jeroen Bleekemolen /Jos Verstappen
	Class	ALMS	Sports Car Challenge of Mid-Ohio	Penske Racing	Romain Dumas / Timo Bernhard
	Class	ELMS	1000 km of Nürburgring	Van Merksteijn Motorsport	Jos Verstappen / Jeroen Bleekemolen
	Class	ELMS	2008 1000 km of Silverstone	Van Merksteijn Motorsport	Peter van Merksteijn / Jos Verstappen
	Class	ALMS	Petit Le Mans	Penske Racing	Hélio Castroneves / Ryan Briscoe
2009	Class	ELMS	1000 km of Spa	Team Essex	Casper Elgaard / Kristian Poulsen / Emmanuel Collard
2009	Class	ELMS	24 Hours of Le Mans	Team Essex	Casper Elgaard / Kristian Poulsen / Emmanuel Collard
2010	Class	ALMS	12 Hours of Sebring	Muscle Milk Team Cytosport	Greg Pickett / Klaus Graf / Sascha Maassen
	Overall	ALMS	Northeast Grand Prix	Muscle Milk Team Cytosport	Greg Pickett / Klaus Graf
	Overall	ALMS	Grand Prix of Mosport	Muscle Milk Team Cytosport	Romain Dumas / Klaus Graf