The RS Spyder was designed by Porsche engineers in conjunction with Penske and Carbotech. According to the Wikipedia article on the Porsche RS Spyder, Carbotech assisted in the car’s design. The car takes its name from the Porsche 550 Spyder of the 1950s, combined with Porsche’s “RennSport” designation. The chassis is a rigid carbon fibre monocoque with the engine and transmission as integral stressed members.
At its debut at Laguna Seca in 2005, the RS Spyder, driven by Lucas Luhr and Sascha Maassen, finished first in class and fifth overall. In 2006, Penske entered two RS Spyders in the ALMS, achieving seven class victories including an outright victory at Mid-Ohio. This was the first LMP2 victory since 2003 and the first major result for Porsche since the 1998 24 Hours of Le Mans. These results secured the LMP2 Championship for Penske and Sascha Maassen in the drivers’ standings.
For 2007, Porsche unveiled the RS Spyder Evo, increasing engine power to 503 horsepower (375 kW). Dyson Racing joined Penske in the ALMS. The 2007 season proved successful for the RS Spyder, with Penske repeating their outright victory in the ALMS series eight times, alongside three additional class victories. Romain Dumas won the LMP2 Drivers Championship. The RS Spyder won eight races while the Audi R10 TDI from the premier P1 class won four.
In 2008, rule changes increased the RS Spyder’s weight to 825 kg, and Porsche introduced 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, marking Porsche’s first overall win at the race in 20 years. Penske also achieved an outright victory at the Utah Grand Prix and recorded three additional class wins. At Petit Le Mans, Penske entered a third RS Spyder in an attempt to secure the manufacturers’ championship against Acura, ultimately winning both the LMP2 Team and drivers’ championships for Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas. Porsche won the manufacturers’ championship by one point ahead of Acura. Danish Team Essex, Van Merksteijn Motorsport, and Horag Racing all participated in the 2008 Le Mans Series with 2008-spec RS Spyders, as noted in the Wikipedia article on the Porsche RS Spyder.
The 2008 12 Hours of Sebring saw a Penske RS Spyder achieve the first major endurance racing victory for Porsche in five years, and the first time in 14 years that a non-premier class car had won the race overall.
New restrictor rules in 2009 reduced the RS Spyder’s power to approximately 440 horsepower (330 kW), and limited the wingspan, decreasing downforce. Penske did not compete in the ALMS in 2009, but Team CytoSport, previously competing in LMP1, purchased an ex-Dyson Racing RS Spyder and participated in four races, achieving a best result of second in class at Road America. In the Le Mans Series (LMS), Team Essex secured a class victory at Spa and repeated this success at Le Mans, finishing 10th overall with drivers Casper Elgaard, Kristian Poulsen and Emmanuel Collard. Team Goh also participated in the 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans with an ex-Van Merksteijn Motorsport car, according to the Wikipedia article on the 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans.
In 2010, CytoSport contested the full ALMS season, with Sascha Maassen joining Klaus Graf and Greg Pickett for longer races. The team won the LMP2 class at the 12 Hours of Sebring and achieved outright victories at the Northeast Grand Prix at Lime Rock and a shortened race at Mosport. They finished second in the championship behind Patrón Highcroft Racing, with Klaus Graf finishing second in the drivers’ standings. No RS Spyders were entered in the 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The 2011 LMP2 regulations rendered the RS Spyder obsolete due to cost limitations. However, the car influenced the Porsche 918 Spyder, which used a development of the RS Spyder’s engine, and the Porsche 919 Hybrid, which carried Porsche’s racing program into the LMP1 category starting in 2014.
This article is based solely on the Wikipedia article "Porsche RS Spyder", "2009 24 Hours of Le Mans", and "Porsche RS Spyder". No other external sources were consulted.