Vehicle Description
Chassis No. 9R6-705
It is infrequent that Porsche does not aim for the very top class
when designing a new sports racing prototype, yet, they often run
at the front, victorious over those "faster" cars. The Porsche RS
Spyder (9R6), designed for the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) LMP2
class is part of this famous group that also includes the 550
Spyder, 904 Carrera GTS, and Carrera 6. Not bad company, especially
when we consider that those cars garnered notable overall
victories, cementing Porsche's race department - Porsche System
Engineering - as a giant killer before they became giants
themselves. Decades later, the RS Spyder proves that the apple
doesn't fall far from the tree. Between 2006 and 2008 Porsche RS
Spyders notched multiple overall victories, class championships,
and yes, even a 1-2 overall victory against the LMP1 class Audis
and Peugeots at the 2008 12 Hours of Sebring proving yet again,
that, even in the lower classes, Porsche often builds the car to
beat.
2007
By 2007, Porsche expanded its customer base for the updated RS
Spyder to include Poughkeepsie, New York-based Dyson Racing. A
regular ALMS entrant fielding Lolas since 2002, Dyson entered the
competitive LMP2 class with two RS Spyders reportedly on lease from
Porsche, and while their cutting-edge prototypes may have been from
a new manufacturer, Dyson was well accustomed to top-level racing
with Porsche, having successfully fielded multiple IMSA-GTP class
Porsche 962s between 1986 and 1989.
As noted by a Porsche Motorsport North America (PMNA) build
document, this 2007 RS Spyder, chassis number 9R6-705, finished
construction on 26 January 2007. As an updated 2007 RS Spyder, it
featured additional power and more aerodynamically efficient and
attractive bodywork. Flown across the Atlantic, Dyson Racing had a
short period of acclimatization and testing before painting the car
in their longtime sponsor colors of white and blue of Thetford and
Norcold with it being issued start number 20. No racing season is
without its race-to-race challenges but from the results sheet,
Dyson's 2007 season was nothing short of a resounding success.
Piloted by Guy Smith and Chris Dyson, chassis number 705 placed at
least 6th in class across the 12-race ALMS calendar. An overall
podium at Petit Le Mans that autumn was clearly a high point with
the beaming faces of Smith and Dyson on the rostrum a jubilant
memory for the team and many Dyson Racing fans. The reward for
their successful 2007 ALMS season was second place in the LMP2 team
class championship, just one spot behind the factory-supported DHL
Penske Porsche Racing Team, and a desire to go one better for
2008.
2008
Thoroughly refreshed and receiving updates for the 2008 ALMS racing
season, chassis number 705 retained its blue and white livery and
the formidable driver pairing of Smith and Dyson. Once again
fielding two RS Spyders, 705 would receive a new start number, 16.
Like 2007, the 2008 season started smoothly with well-earned class
podiums at the 12 Hours of Sebring and the St. Petersburg Grand
Prix street race. Two strong fourth places followed on Long Beach's
streets and the mountain west Grand Prix of Utah road course.
After a near two-month break for those teams contesting the 24
Hours of Le Mans, the ALMS circus visited historic Lime Rock Park
in the bucolic rolling hills of Salisbury, Connecticut. No doubt
the race was highlighted on Dyson Racing's team calendar that
season. Not only was it a home race for the Poughkeepsie-based
team, but it was also the celebratory race marking their 25th
anniversary. Pulling out all the stops, 705 was painted in the
unmistakable, historic livery of white, orange, and yellow - the
colors of Dyson's Porsche 962 from 1985 with the celebration
continuing pre-race, on-track display of 705 and that very same
962.
Qualifying in 10th position for the Northeast Grand Prix, Guy Smith
was at the wheel running in third position overall when, with an
hour and 10 minutes left in the race, 705 was caught up in an
incident at the new uphill section with the number 44 Porsche 911
GT3 RSR. While the race continued, 9R6-705 was retired, returning
to the paddock for an inspection by Dyson's mechanics and Porsche's
engineers before being loaded and quickly transported to the race
shop. By 6:00 pm that Sunday, 705 was completely stripped and the
carbon fiber tub was determined to have suffered damage to the
extent that it could not compete in the next race, just a week away
at Mid-Ohio. According to Dyson's press release covering the
incident, "all the salvageable parts on the #16 car were tagged,
bagged, and loaded into flight cases." A new tub-also numbered
9R6-705-was, "flown in from Porsche in Germany and arrived at the
Mid-Ohio paddock at 1:00 pm on Wednesday." In one of the most
famous, gritty, and well-documented motorsport tales, the Dyson
team, along with five Porsche engineers who arrived with the new
tub, placed it on chassis stands and, in what Dyson himself said
would normally take weeks, rebuilt the car over the course of a
single day. Along with the new tub, 705 would receive a new nose,
front splitter, left-hand side floor, wiring harness, and engine.
Porsche was instrumental in expediting the process. The
factory-backed team was in a fierce LMP2 constructors championship
battle with Acura that season and Porsche could ill-afford a race
without two Dyson Porsche entries. Digital photos of the rebuild at
Mid-Ohio accompany the car along with PMNA paperwork dated 26 April
2016 acknowledging the replacement tub and Porsche Motorsport's
subsequent destruction of the Lime Rock damaged tub. A fine fifth
in class at Mid-Ohio by the rebuilt 705 was the reward for a job
well done although a good night's sleep that evening was likely
just as gratifying! The remaining five events were raced without
incident, and when the flag flew at the season finale at Laguna
Seca in Monterey, California, chassis number 705 had done its part
to secure 3rd place for Dyson Racing in the LMP2 team championship
and, for Porsche, a second consecutive Manufacturer's
Championship.
Post-Competition
With the end of the 2008 ALMS season, 9R6-705 returned to Porsche
in Germany. During this time it is said to have been under the
control of the Porsche Museum, first visiting Weissach to be
prepared for long-term exhibition, where it would remain on display
until 2012. With the Porsche 919 Hybrid LMP1 program quickly
shaping up, chassis number 705 was reportedly once again pressed
into service, this time as a stand-in to train the mechanics and
pit crews designated to the ultra-secretive 919 project. In
December 2013, the car was purchased directly from Porsche by its
present owner. Transported from Weissach to Virtuoso Performance of
Hayward, California, a comprehensive, painstaking restoration
commenced. This restoration included the full cooperation of
Porsche Motorsport North America, with the Virtuoso crew receiving
support, guidance, and documentation from the very same Porsche
team members that supported the RS Spyders in period. As stated by
Scott Drnek of Virtuoso Performance: "The mission statement was
very clear: 9R6-705 was to be completely refreshed and prepared to
the same standard as if it were to return to professional racing.
Further, the car owner was intent on maintaining as much of the
original content and character of 9R6-705 as possible."
Over two years, the car was completely disassembled to return it to
its original, as-raced condition. Porsche Motorsport provided a
correct, fully rebuilt dyno-tested engine and transmission. Par for
the cou...for more information please contact the seller.