This 911 GT3 is inspired by a Le Mans-winning Porsche 956

By topgear, 11 November 2021

Porsche’s reborn Sonderwunsch programme will allow its most deep-pocketed customers access to the next level of options lists, with the chance to help design their own liveries and parts, or even a complete one-off.

This is the first car to come out of said programme (which translates to Special Request, naturally) – a 911 GT3 with a livery and a few extra bits inspired by the New Man Joest Racing Porsche 956 that Klaus Ludwig, Louis Krages (otherwise known as John Winter) and Paolo Barilla drove to victory in the 1985 24 Hours of Le Mans. Very, very cool.

It’s Barilla that has commissioned this GT3 too. Not only does it get the livery, but the rear wing gets new endplates apparently inspired by the original 956 and have been through full wind tunnel testing. We’re big fans of those white and gold wheels too. 

The original number seven is on the doors, and the gear stick now has an aluminium knob that was milled from a single block to look like the magnesium ball in the 956. 

With Barilla heavily involved from the beginning (he was even given his own ID card as he became an official Porsche employee) the project took three years and went through three test paints. “PB 60” is emblazoned across its flanks too. That’s because the custom GT3 was Barilla’s birthday to himself.

STORY Greg Potts

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