One-off Le Mans-inspired Porsche 911 GT3 created

Porsche has celebrated the 1985 outright win of the Le Mans 24 Hours with a special one-off creation based on the 2022 Porsche 911 GT3.

Said to be the first model produced as part of the German sports car-maker's relaunched Sonderwunsch (special wishes) program, the unique Porsche 911 GT3 was built and customised for former racer Paolo Barilla, who won Le Mans that year alongside Klaus Ludwig and John Winter.

Pinching its livery from the Team Joest 956 racer that helped Barilla clinch victory, the 911 GT3 shares the same white and yellow livery, with Barilla's racing number 7.

Mimicking the 956's aeroblade rims, the modern Porsche GT gets white front rims. Other homages to the racer include rounded endplates on its imposing rear spoiler that are claimed to ape the original's.

Inside, the special touches continue – there's a milled aluminium gear lever that pays tribute to the lightweight magnesium gear knob the 956 used.

Embroidered head restraints and celebratory logos on the dash and kick plates complete the changes over the standard 911 GT3.

Claimed to have taken three years from first sketch to delivery (partly because the design team had to wait for the 992-series 911 GT3 to arrive), Barilla collected his car on his 60th birthday.

"In the eighties, I had the chance to drive the wonderful Porsche 956, an iconic car in terms of performance and beauty," he said.

"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.”

The Sonderwunsch program comes out of the Porsche Exclusiv Manufaktur division, which allows customers to personalise and customise to their heart's (or wallet's) content.

The program is only recently said to have been reactivated, hinting other lucky Porsche works drivers could soon be in for a treat.