PORSCHE RS SPYDER & RS SPYDER EVO (LMP2)

June 8, 2007 - The ALMS can hardly be compared with the LMS since several rounds of the ALMS are contested on street circuits where power is less important than agility. On those circuits a light LMP2 car has a big advantage on the much heavier LMP1 cars. That explains why there are nearly no LMP1 prototypes involved in ALMS racing. LMP1 entry is restricted to the two works Audis R10 TDi and two obsolete other cars. That inspired Porsche already in 2005 to build an LMP2 car being able to beat the Audis on the American street tracks. However, there was a major problem: in LMP2 no works teams are allowed by the ACO rules. At Stuttgart they found prompt the solution: they made a deal with Roger Penske to let him run the semi-professional team. Name of the new car: Porsche Spyder RS. It is one hundred per cent Porsche designed and constructed, from the carbon-fibre Kevlar body to the newly-developed engine, the chassis and powertrain through to the suspension.
The prototype was initially powered by a newly-developed 90-degree V8 endurance engine, fitted with ACO regulation air restrictors, delivering around 480 hp from a 3.4-litre capacity. The lightweight power plant features a very low centre of gravity, four valves per cylinder, a dry-sump lubrication system and single cylinder throttle valves. By the end of 2006 the Porsche RS Spyder Evo was presented at the Paris Salon de l'Automobile. Officially the tuned engine of the Evo develops 503 bhp, but insiders know that 540 bhp is much more probable. The six-speed sequential constant-mesh gearbox with a triple-disc carbon fibre racing clutch is a structural part of the chassis and is operated by a steering wheel-mounted paddle shift system. Attached to this extremely strong yet lightweight framework is a front and rear double-wishbone suspension, with adjustable springs, anti-roll bars and four-way shock absorbers. Providing optimum braking power, the brake system includes twin master cylinders, adjustable brake balance and internally vented carbon brake discs measuring 380mm at the front and 355mm at the rear. As an integral partner in the car’s development process, Michelin supplies the race tyres for the new Porsche prototype. Initially 3 units were built and delivered at Penske Motorsports. In 2007 Penske received the new RS Spyder Evo, whilst the 2006 RS Spyders were sold to Dyson Racing, having dropped its unreliable Lolas B06/10 of the previous year.

RESULTS 2006 - Having been entered as a test at the two last rounds of the 2005 ALMS the RS Spyder collected in 2006 five podiums with its two units, having won its class in eight of the ten outings (only the two first rounds were lost from the Intersport Lola B05/40) and one overall victory at Mid-Ohio.
RESULTS 2007 - In 2006 the RS Spyder missed power to beat easily the Audis on the street circuits. The RS Spyder Evo with 540 bhp (only driven by the two Penske Motorsport units) was the solution, since it could beat the Audi TDi at three of the five first rounds.  The 2006 Dyson Porsches RS realised one third, one fourth and two fifth places at the five first rounds. Since the car is unreliable over long distances and has certainly not enough power for the long Mulsanne straight, Porsche refuses to send it to Le Mans.

LMP2
engine: Porsche MR6, 90 degree V8; 3,397cc, 480 bhp at 10100 rpm for the 2006
     version, 503 bhp at 10300 rpm on the 2007 Evo (torque 370 Nm)
turbochargers: naturally aspired
Valvetrain: 4 valves per cylinder DOHC
gearbox: paddle operated 6 speed sequential Porsche
fuel capacity: 90 litres
weight: 775 
tyres: Michelin