Porsche has celebrated the 1985 win of the Le Mans 24 Hours with a custom-made vehicle based on the 2022 Porsche 911 GT3.

Said to be the first model produced as part of the German carmaker’s relaunched Sonderwunsch (special wishes) program, the unique Porsche 911 GT3 was built for former racing driver Paolo Barilla, who won Le Mans that year alongside Klaus Ludwig and John Winter.

Paying homage to the team Joest 956 racer that helped Barilla clinch victory, the vehicle showcases striking exterior paintwork in Summer Yellow, white and black, with the winning race number seven on its bonnet and doors. The side plates on the rear spoiler are also influenced by the design and geometry of its historic predecessor. The car features rounded end plates on the rear spoiler, with engineers from the series-produced 911 GT3 drafted in to help ensure that the aerodynamic performance remained unchanged.

Inside, the special touches continue with celebratory logos combining the type code 957, the “Le Mans 1985” logo and the stylised silhouette of the racing car adorn the door entry guards and the passenger side dashboard. More celebratory logos are embroidered into the headrests. The gear lever is reminiscent of the magnesium ball in the 956 racing car.

“In the Eighties, I had the chance to drive the wonderful Porsche 956, an iconic car in terms of performance and beauty,” says Paolo Barilla. “The interpretation of some elements in a modern GT3 makes that memory exciting and vital – for me and for people who are close to me.”

Within the program, the client assumes the role of project manager. As part of the project team, made of experts from Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur and Style Porsche design department, Barilla collaborated directly in the car’s creation.

The biggest challenge during the design was to transfer the graphic design from an extremely flat and square racing vehicle to the more rounded shape of the current 911.

“Geometrically these are very different cars,” said Grant Larson, Director of Special Projects at Style Porsche. Trial paint was applied three times before Larson and Barilla were satisfied.

The process took a total of three years from sketch to delivery, with Barilla collecting his car on his 60^th birthday.

Source: Porsche | Porsche 911 GT3: based on the 956 that won at Le Mans in 1985

10 November 2021