The 2017 Porsche 911 RSR-17 is not merely another entry in the historic lineage of the 911 – it is the culmination of more than four decades of engineering evolution that began with the legendary 911 Carrera RSR of 1973. As a direct descendant of Porsche’s earliest endurance racing icons, the RSR-17 bridges the gap between tradition and innovation, carrying forward a legacy of motor sports dominance while breaking bold new ground in design and performance. Unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November 2016, the RSR-17 was developed to compete in the LM GTE categories of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), the European Le Mans Series, and IMSA’s GTLM class in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. At the time of its introduction, the new RSR represented a profound shift in Porsche’s approach to GT racing. As Dr. Frank-Steffen Walliser, then Head of Porsche Motorsport, noted at the time: “While retaining the typical 911 design, this is the biggest evolution by now in the history of our top GT model.”
Indeed, the RSR-17 marked a radical departure from Porsche tradition. Whereas all previous RSR variants featured the 911’s traditional rear-engine layout, the RSR-17 introduced – for the first time in the model’s history – a mid-engine configuration. The flat-six powerplant was moved ahead of the rear axle, a design choice not seen in a 911-based race car since the GT1 of the late 1990s. Importantly, this innovation did not require regulatory exceptions. Porsche designed the car entirely within the framework of the 2017 GTE regulations, disproving early speculation and showcasing the company’s mastery in rulebookdriven innovation. Development of the RSR-17 began in earnest at Weissach in March 2016. Initial teaser images, revealing only the front half of the car, fueled intense curiosity across the motor sports community. By October, an unmarked prototype was spied testing at Sebring, its massive rear diffuser and unique air extractors hinting at the new mid-engine architecture beneath. In total, the prototypes underwent approximately 22,000 miles of testing – more than any Porsche GT race car before it.
At the core of the RSR-17 is the proven four-liter, naturally aspirated flat-six derived from the GT3 R, producing approximately 500 hp and mated to a six-speed sequential gearbox. The car’s sophisticated suspension system, lightweight construction, AP Racing brakes, and extreme aerodynamic refinements – including a swan-neck rear wing, revised side mirrors, and a prominent rear diffuser – made it remarkably capable on both fast-flowing tracks like Le Mans and Spa, and technical circuits like Sebring and Long Beach.
The RSR-17 made its competitive debut at the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2017, finishing a close 2nd in the GTLM class – just 2.98 seconds behind the winning Ford GT. This impressive result set the tone for a highly competitive season. By year’s end, Porsche had captured the IMSA North American Endurance Cup titles in both the GTLM Drivers and Teams categories. Meanwhile, in WEC competition, Porsche placed 3rd in the GT Manufacturer’s Championship, with drivers Richard Lietz and Frédéric Makowiecki finishing 2nd in the GT Drivers’ standings.
The RSR-17’s reputation continued to grow over the following seasons, establishing it as one of the most successful GT racers in Porsche’s modern era. In 2018, class wins at Sebring, Petit Le Mans, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans echoed the achievements of its RSR predecessors. The 2019 IMSA season saw the RSR-17 win six races, including pivotal victories at Long Beach, Sebring, and Watkins Glen – Long Beach marking Porsche’s first-ever GTLM win at the iconic California street circuit.
Perhaps the most iconic moment in the RSR-17’s storied career came at the 2019 Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta, where it raced for the final time wearing a nostalgic Coca-Cola livery. The red-and-white scheme evoked memories of Bob Akin’s partnership with the Atlanta-based soft drink brand during IMSA’s thrilling 935-962 era, bridging past and present in an unforgettable tribute. That race closed a dominant season in which Porsche secured both the GTLM Manufacturer’s and Team Championships, sealing the RSR-17’s place among Porsche’s most significant winners.
Across its career, the 911 RSR-17 amassed 13 victories, 34 podium finishes, and multiple championship titles in both IMSA and WEC competition. From Daytona to Le Mans, it became an enduring symbol of Porsche’s relentless pursuit of performance, innovation, and endurance racing excellence. Remarkably, only seven RSR-17s were retained by Porsche Motorsport for factory use – three dedicated to testing and four to competition (two in WEC and two in IMSA). Each chassis, numbered 901 through 907, was painstakingly assembled by four factory race technicians over a 10-day build process.
The example offered here, chassis 905, was retained as a factory spare for the duration of the RSR-17’s competition life between 2017 and 2019. While its sister cars were heavily campaigned on both sides of the Atlantic, chassis 905 remained largely unused during this period; its minimal mileage and wear are notable in comparison to its race-worn counterparts. When Porsche unveiled the classic Coca-Cola livery for the 2019 Petit Le Mans, chassis 905 was selected to wear the iconic colors for promotional use, including a short film in which Porsche works driver Patrick Long piloted the car on closed public roads near downtown Atlanta. This publicity run, conceived by Scott Bartlett of Porsche Motorsport North America, was the car’s most public outing prior to its transition into private hands.
In spring 2020, Porsche Motorsport sold chassis 905 to its current owner, a private American collector with a deep appreciation for the RSR lineage. Since acquisition, the car has seen only light use, limited to private testing and a single outing at a historic event at Road America. It has been professionally maintained by a dedicated race technician, with no expense spared to preserve its mechanical and cosmetic condition. Today, it is presented in superb order, still wearing its iconic Coca-Cola colors, and accompanied by shock absorbers and a spare set of wheels.
The RSR-17 stands as perhaps the ultimate expression of the 911 as a purpose-built racing machine. A technological marvel developed at the height of Porsche’s factory-backed GT racing campaign, it represents the rare intersection of innovation, heritage, and motor sports prestige. As a true factory works team car – retained, prepared, and preserved by Porsche Motorsport – chassis 905 offers a truly unique opportunity: never before has an RSR-17 been offered at public auction.
For the discerning collector or seasoned enthusiast, this is more than a race car – it is a milestone in Porsche’s racing history, preserved with extraordinary care and offered now to a new steward of its legacy.
*Please note that this vehicle is sold on a Bill of Sale.
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