Porsche ehrt Jo Siffert mit exklusivem 911 GT3 RS: Eine Hommage an die Rennikone und den 917er Triumph

Porsche pays homage to racing icon Jo Siffert with a special 911 model

The design of the 911 GT3 RS is inspired by Siffert's 917

With the 911 GT3 RS Tribute to Jo Siffert, Porsche honors the memory of the Swiss racing driver who died prematurely and simultaneously commemorates the first victory of the legendary 917 nearly 55 years ago: On August 10, 1969, Siffert, along with Kurt Ahrens, clinched the win at the first international 1,000 Kilometer race at the Österreichring in Zeltweg.

The 917 achieved its first racing victory despite initial concerns over its high speeds and aerodynamics, which made it challenging to handle. This unique model was crafted by the specialists at Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur as part of their special request program. Starting in August 2024, the vehicle will be showcased in Porsche centers across Switzerland, eventually becoming one of the main attractions at the "Auto Zürich" show, scheduled from November 7 to 10, 2024. The lucky owner will be selected randomly from a pool of potential buyers.

Photo Gallery: Porsche 911 GT3 RS Homage to Jo Siffert

Half a century after his passing, Joseph "Jo" Siffert is still revered as an icon in Switzerland. Born in Fribourg, Siffert was an exceptionally skilled and charismatic driver. His passion for racing was profound, having competed in 298 races over the span of eleven years. On occasion, he would participate in multiple events in a single weekend.

With a keen eye for detail and with the backing from Bosch and Shell, the specialists at Porsche Design have also recreated the vintage sponsor stickers. The Bosch sticker featuring the spark plug is positioned on the rear wheel arches. The Shell paintwork, showcasing the brand's iconic shell logo, is situated below the rear window near the service hatches for oil and coolant.

Porsche 911 GT3 RS Edition Honoring Jo Siffert

The center cap of the satin black magnesium wheels features a depiction of the 917KH's profile, which is also adorned on the sideplates of the rear wing. A unique helmet-designed badge is placed on the B-pillars, showcasing Jo Siffert's name and signature as a personal touch.

Inside the 911 GT3 RS Tribute to Jo Siffert, there is a sophisticated racing vibe: Race-Tex in black and Indian red takes precedence. The headrests feature an embroidered helmet design. The door entry guards are adorned with the 917 silhouette alongside the signature. Even the car key has been customized with great effort: the flanks are painted in Pure White or the modern Viper Green, with the 917 silhouette printed in a contrasting color. Jo Siffert's signature is embossed on both the lid of the center console and the leather key case.

Porsche 917, driven by Kurt Ahrens and Jo Siffert, competed in the Zeltweg race in 1969.

In a 2018 recollection, former chief racing engineer Peter Falk credits Jo Siffert with a significant role in Porsche's triumph at the 1969 Sports Car World Championship, describing him as the standout speedster of the team. Porsche dominated the season with victories in seven out of ten races, with Siffert securing five wins alongside British racer Brian Redman, and one with Kurt Ahrens, notably on August 10, 1969, in Zeltweg. Ahrens reflects on the Zeltweg victory as a pivotal moment in the 917's success story and expresses his pride and honor in sharing the driving duties with Siffert.

In a surprising move back in 1968, the FIA decided to shake things up by altering the rules for the World Sportscar Championship. They increased the maximum engine size to five liters and lowered the production number required for approval to just 25 cars. This change left the three-liter Porsche 908 at a disadvantage. As a result, Porsche had to come up with a more competitive vehicle, leading to the creation of the 917. The 917's legacy is nothing short of extraordinary. In its very first year of competition in 1969, it clinched the Sportscar Championship. The following year, drivers Hans Herrmann and Richard Attwood secured the coveted victory at the Le Mans race.

Helmut Marko and Gijs van Lennep matched Porsche's previous top achievement in motorsports in 1971. With the evolution of the 917 model into the turbocharged 917/10 and 917/30 versions, which boasted over 1,000 horsepower, George Follmer in 1972 and Mark Donohue in 1973 took control of the North American CanAm Series.

Porsche 911 GT3 RS Homage to Jo Siffert

Jo Siffert tragically didn't live to see the continuation of his legacy: At the age of 35, he met with a fatal accident during a Formula 1 race at Brands Hatch in the UK on October 24, 1971, after his stint with Porsche. His memory endures not only for his racing but also for contributing the majority of authentic race cars featured in Steve McQueen's iconic film about Le Mans.

Porsche is revamping its iconic custom request service from the late 1970s, offering one-of-a-kind, personalized creations – co-designed by the customer and expertly executed by Porsche. The service expansion includes the integration of unique color and material preferences during the production process, as well as post-production enhancements, all the way to bespoke vehicle concepts tailored to customer specifications after the vehicle's delivery – regardless of the vehicle's age.

Additional from Porsche:

Customers interested in customizing their new vehicles can reach out to their local Porsche Centre. If they desire customization options beyond what is available in the Car Configurator from the Exclusive Manufaktur, they initiate a special request process which includes arranging a personal consultation with experts in Zuffenhausen or at international locations such as Atlanta or Los Angeles. At these meetings, the manufacturer's specialists will promptly assess and technically approve the bespoke requests of the customers.

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