Porsche pays tribute to driver Jo Siffert with this exclusive GT3 RS

The Zuffenhausen brand has competition as one of its essential pillars, and everything that has to do historically with it is usually taken care of in a sublime way... This is one more example: through the Exclusive Manufaktur program, Porsche has designed a 911 GT3 exclusive RS based on the figure of the iconic Jo Siffert, star driver of their endurance program in the late 60s and early 70s.

The surname Siffert will only be recognized by the most fanatical of the motorsport, but surely the Porsche 917 name Now it will sound like a lot more people. We are talking about nothing less than the first Porsche winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and one of the most successful endurance cars in history.

Who is Jo Siffert?

Well, just before Porsche Salzburg's legendary red and white 917 began an unparalleled lineage at Le Mans, the German prototype achieved its first major success in the Zeltweg's inaugural 1.000 km race in 1969, with the Swiss Siffert at the controls. Joseph, the real name of the driver being honored today, had already excelled in Formula 1, passing through teams such as Lotus, Brabham, March or BRM and even winning some GPs, such as in the World Endurance Championship, where he was crowned winner alongside Hans. Herrmann at the 24 12 Hours of Daytona and 1968 Hours of Sebring aboard a Porsche 907.

Bad fortune would have it that at the end of October 1971, just two months after winning his second Formula 1 Grand Prix (Austria), the fire broke out in his BRM after colliding with Ronnie Peterson at the Brands Hatch circuit (England) - where precisely three years earlier he had achieved his first victory in F1 - would leave us without the talent of Siffert, who died at 35 years of age.

Now, almost 55 years after Zeltweg's unforgettable career, the Stuttgart-based manufacturer has come up with this impressive customization for the GT3 RS that evokes the 917 itself from '69 and Jo Siffert with various details such as the body color, the vinyls and the interior plates and embroidery that keep in the memory of someone who one day gave his best at the wheel of a Porsche.

This unit will now roll from exhibition to exhibition to move on to raffle your right to purchase then among those who are interested in Switzerland.

Images | porsche