Porsche RS Spyder

Category	Le Mans Prototype
Constructor	Porsche withCarboTech
Designers	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 fibremonocoque with engine and gearbox as stressed members
Suspension (front)	Independent four-way, spring/damper units activated by pushrods, adjustabletorsion-bar springs, dampers andanti-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	PorscheMR6 3,397 cc (3.4 L; 207.3 cu in) 90-degreeV8 normally aspirated, 32-valve, DOHC, four-valves per cylindermid-engine,longitudinally mounted
Transmission	GR6 6-speedelectro-pneumatic actuated paddle-shiftsequential gearbox Mechanical locking differential plus traction control
Weight	825 kg (1,819 lb)
Fuel	EPIC Ethanol E10 + VP Racing Fuels unleaded gasoline 90% (ALMS) ExxonMobil unleaded (24 Hours of Le Mans)
Lubricants	Mobil 1
Tyres	Michelin,Dunlop[1]
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 atLaguna Seca
Races Wins Poles F/Laps 63 13 10 12
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

TheRS Spyder (Type 9R6) is aracing car designed byPorsche in conjunction withPenske to compete inLe Mans Prototype Class 2 (LMP2) racing.^[2] The car takes its name from the legendaryPorsche 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 ofsports prototype racing since the firm abandoned itsPorsche LMP in 1999.

The RS Spyder made its debut in the final event of the 2005American Le Mans Series (ALMS) atLaguna Seca winning its class. Since then the RS Spyder has won the ALMS LMP2 Championship in2006,2007 and2008 and took class honours at Le Mans in2008 and2009. The outright victory at the2008 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 thePorsche 918 Spyder, which uses a development of the RS Spyder's engine and thePorsche 919 Hybrid which carried Porsche's racing program on into the LMP1 category starting in 2014.

The RS Spyder was designed completely in-house by Porsche engineers with help from Carbotech. The chassis is a rigidcarbon fibremonocoque with both the engine and transmission being integral stressed members. The 3.4-litre 90-degreeV8 racing engine was designed from scratch as was the six-speed electro-pneumaticsequential gearbox. Braking is via six-piston aluminum monobloc calipers andcarbon 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 825 kilograms (1,819 lb) in 2010 specification but was initially 750 kilograms (1,650 lb).^[2]

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 theACO. For 2008, the engine developed 503 horsepower (375 kW) using sequential multipoint inject and 440 horsepower (330 kW) in 2009-spec, with air restrictor limitations.^[2]

The RS Spyder made its race debut at the final round of the 2005American Le Mans Series, the Monterey Sports Car Championship atMazda Raceway Laguna Seca, entered byPenske Racing and driven byLucas Luhr andSascha Maassen from thePorsche Junioren factory team. The sole RS Spyder finished first in class and fifth overall.^[3]

During 2006, Penske entered two RS Spyders in the ALMS and won seven class victories including an outright victory at theMid-Ohio race.^[4] This was the first LMP2 victory in a race since 2003 and the first major result for Porsche since the1998 24 Hours of Le Mans. The results ensure victory for Penske in the LMP2 Championship and also for Sascha Maassen in the drivers' standings.^[5][6]

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).^[7]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.^[8] Penske again won the LMP2 class in ALMS andRomain Dumas won the LMP2 Drivers Championship. During the season the RS Spyder won eight races while theAudi R10 TDI from the largest P1 class won only four.^[9]

Rule changes increased the RS Spyder's weight to 825 kg^[10] and Porsche introduce a new direct injection engine developing 503 horsepower (375 kW).^[11] A Penske car driven byTimo Bernhard,Romain Dumas, andEmmanuel Collard, secured the overall victory at the 200812 Hours of Sebring, winning it on the 20th anniversary of Porsche's last overall win at the race.^[12] Penske had another outright victory at theUtah 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.^[13]

Danish Team Essex together withVan Merksteijn Motorsport of The Netherlands and Horag Racing of Switzerland participate in theLe Mans Series (LMS) all with 2008-spec RS Spyder. Team Essex and Van Merksteijn also entered the24 Hours of Le Mans, marking the debut for the RS Spyder at the event. An RS Spyder fromVan Merksteijn Motorsport driven byJeroen Bleekemolen,Peter van Merksteijn andJos Verstappen, came first in class and 10th overall with the Essex team coming second in class (12th overall).^[14] 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 forVan Merksteijn Motorsport.

New restrictor rules brought the RS Spyder's power down to approximately 440 horsepower (330 kW),^[15] and the wingspan was limited by the rules, effectively decreasing downforce.^[16]

Penske did not compete in the ALMS in 2009 but TeamCytoSport, who had previously competed in LMP1 in 2007, purchased an ex-Dyson Racing RS Spyder^[17] and took part in four races with a best result of second in class atRoad America.^[18]

In LMS, Team Essex only competed in the 1000 km race atSpa taking the class victory and also securing the class victory atLe Mans, finishing 10th overall withCasper Elgaard,Kristian Poulsen and Emmanuel Collard at the wheel.Team Goh also took part in the race with an ex-Van Merksteijn Motorsport car.^[19]

CytoSport announced in February 2010 that it would contest the full ALMS in a RS Spyder.^[20] It was also announced that Sascha Maassen would join the regular driversKlaus Graf and Greg Pickett at the longer races at Sebring, Laguna Seca and Road Atlanta.^[21] 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 the12 Hours of Sebring^[22] and took their first outright victory atNortheast Grand Prix atLime Rock.^[23] CytoSport continued their winning success by taking outright victory at a shortened race atMosport.^[24] They also finished the season second behindPatrónHighcroft Racing in the championship and Klaus Graf finished second in the drivers' standings.^[25]

No RS Spyders were entered in the2010 24 Hours of Le Mans. The 2011 LMP2 regulations rendered the RS Spyder obsolete due to the costs exceeding the LMP2 budget limit.^[26]

• 
  Both of Penske Racing's Porsche RS Spyders at the 2007 Monterey Sports Car Championships.
• 
  Cockpit of Porsche RS Spyder.
• 
  Porsche MR6 3.4 Litre V8 engine, GR6 gearbox and the rear axle withdrive shafts andwishbones.
• 
  Didier Theys at the wheel of Horag Racing's Porsche RS Spyder at the2008 1000km of Silverstone.
• 
  Emmanuel Collard drives a Porsche RS Spyder of Team Essex inSpa 2009.
• 
  Sebring LMP2 class winner. Muscle Milk Team Cytosport Porsche RS Spyder Evo.
• 
  The overall winner of the2008 12 Hours of Sebring.
• 
  Porsche RS Spyder EVO at the2007 Grand Prix of Mosport

* Bold indicates pole position
* Italic indicates the fastest lap

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Wikimedia Commons has media related toPorsche RS Spyder.

• Official Porsche website
• RS Spyder at official Porsche site (German)
• Penske Racing

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