For most people, winning the Le Mans 24 Hour race would be reward enough in itself. Paolo Barilla, though, needed another way to commemorate his 1985 victory.
To coincide with his 60th birthday, Barilla became the first customer to order a car with Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur, as part of the new Sonderwunsch programme.
Using a new Porsche 911 GT3 as a base, Barilla designed a car to resemble the Group C 956B he drove to first place at Le Mans.
Racing driver turned pasta promoter
Paolo entered motorsport in 1975, winning the Italian 100cc karting championship the following year. He later progressed to Formula 3, before moving up to Formula 2 races with Minardi.
For 1985, Barilla switched to the World Endurance Championship, driving a Joest Racing Porsche 956B. Along with Klaus Ludwing and Louis Krages, Barilla would claim a dominant three-lap victory at that year’s Le Mans 24 Hour race.
He attempted to compete in Formula 1 with Minardi in 1990, but struggled to consistently make it onto the grid.
On his retirement from racing, Paolo took up a role with his family’s Barilla Group. He has since held numerous roles with the firm, which is the world’s largest producer of pasta.
Racing back to the 1980s
The starting point for Barilla’s bespoke 911 GT3 was the eye-catching Summer Yellow, white and black paint scheme.
A number seven can be found on the doors – as used by Barilla on his 1985 racing car. The design of the centre-lock wheels is also a nod to the 956B, which featured white aeroblades when raced.
Porsche has even modified the design of the rear wing end plates, influenced by those on the 1980s racer. This required extensive wind tunnel testing to ensure the 911 GT3 still handles correctly.
Inside, the headrests are embroidered with a Le Mans circuit logo. A custom-made gear lever is reminiscent of the magnesium ball design used in the 956B.
DIY custom Porsche
Creating Barilla’s 911 GT3 took a total of three years, with the former racing driver acting as project manager throughout. Paolo was even given the opportunity to attach the gearbox to the engine when the car was being built.
This special opportunity was made possible through the Sonderwunsch programme, which offers a unique experience for Porsche buyers.
According to Philipp Setter, head of Sonderwunsch at Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur: “Our customers have generally seen and experienced a lot, but for projects of this size, we always try to open a few more doors that would otherwise be closed, for very good reason.”
No details of the cost of Barilla’s car have been released. However, as Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur charges €7,500 (£6,400) just to add a fingerprint design to a bonnet, it is unlikely to have been a cheap process.
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