Back in 2021, Porsche presented a truly exceptional 992 GT3 created under their Sonderwunsch (Special request) program, a bespoke project that paid homage to the racing legacy of Paolo Barilla, 1985 Le Mans winner in a privately entered Porsche 956. Now, years after its unveiling, this unique GT3 has been spotted in the wild for the first time, appropriately, on the roads of Parma, Italy, Barilla’s hometown.
Pictures, trophies or race suits are typical keepsakes for a motorsport career. But Barilla had something much more dynamic in mind. To commemorate his 60th birthday, the Italian entrepreneur and former Formula 1 and endurance racer became the first customer to complete a full vehicle project with the Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur under the reimagined Sonderwunsch program, and what came out of it truly deserves the title dream car.
Working alongside Porsche’s top design and engineering teams, Barilla created a highly individualized 992 GT3, taking direct inspiration from his legendary 956 Le Mans racer. The car’s livery, painted in summer yellow, white, and black, reinterprets the original stripe design of the 1985 race car. The number 7, proudly worn by his winning 956, appears on the doors and hood, exactly positioned as it was on the race car, a detail Barilla insisted on during the design phase.
Other elements from the race car were reimagined as well. The rear wing side plates draw heavily from the 956’s geometric shapes, first prototyped via rapid prototyping techniques to balance aerodynamics and aesthetics. Maintaining the aero balance of the GT3 was a top priority, which is why Porsche’s own GT3 aerodynamics engineer was brought in early in the project. The redesigned wing had to prove itself in the wind tunnel, confirming its functional capabilities, not just its visual impact.
The front splitter is painted in the same summer yellow, and even the headlight trim rings were color-matched. Naturally equipped with center-locking hubs, the wheels were styled with a clear nod to motorsport: the front rims painted white to echo the 956’s iconic aero covers, while the rears wear a classic gold tone straight out of 1980s racing heritage.
Inside, the black-dominated interior reflects Barilla’s race-focused roots. The illuminated door sills and a special yellow dashboard inlay on the passenger side feature a logo created specifically for this car: combining the type code "956", the words "Le Mans 1985", and a stylized silhouette of the 956 itself. The headrests carry the same text, alongside the stitched layout of the 1985 Le Mans circuit.
One of the most striking elements inside is the gear selector, a bespoke piece inspired by the magnesium ball shift knob of the original 956. The upper portion was milled from a solid aluminum block and finished by hand, a detail-intensive process reflecting the level of craftsmanship involved.
Barilla wasn’t just a client, he was truly a project leader. As part of the development team, he participated from the very beginning: from the initial design sketches, to technical feasibility discussions, to final assembly. In fact, the entire process took nearly three years, starting before the 992 GT3 had even completed its own production development. Initial work was done based on the previous-generation GT3, showing how early and deeply involved Barilla was.
Throughout the project, Barilla made three in-person visits to Porsche and remained in close contact via phone, video call, and email during the implementation phase. He even received his own Porsche factory badge, a gesture that, according to project lead Philipp Setter, delighted him and symbolically brought him into the Porsche family. During final assembly, Barilla physically mounted the transmission to the engine using a torque-controlled screw rig, a special touch allowed only because of the project's one-off nature.
The exterior graphics were a unique challenge for Porsche designer Grant Larson, the man behind the original Boxster alongside Harm Lagaay. Transferring the flat, wedge-like design language of the 956 to the rounder, taller 911 required digital modeling, laser projection, and three rounds of test paintwork until both Barilla and Larson were satisfied. The exact shade of yellow, chosen from the Paint to Sample program, had to work under both daylight and artificial lighting while staying true to the 1985 aesthetic.
Larson also revealed an amusing but telling anecdote: Barilla insisted the “7” on the doors sit far to the edge of the white stripe, just like on the original race car, a minor tweak that had to be carefully integrated into the complex graphics layout. As inspiration during the process, a 1:43 model of the 956 sat on Larson’s desk throughout the project.
Grant Larson reflected, “These Sonderwunsch projects are a different dimension. Designing dream cars is already why I love working at Porsche, but the personal exchange with a client like Paolo Barilla is incredibly rewarding.”
This car is not just a one-off, it’s a symbol of Porsche's renewed Sonderwunsch program, part of the company’s co-creation strategy. Reborn from its original 1970s roots, the modern program allows customers to co-develop either factory-finished customization, post-production modifications, or true one-off factory specials, like Barilla’s GT3. Depending on vehicle age, Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur or Porsche Classic takes the lead.
As always, the Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur, based in Zuffenhausen, combines craftsmanship with high-tech processes to create highly personalized vehicles. Every detail is considered: unique paints, interior materials, custom components, and even mechanical adjustments when possible. For a few special clients, Porsche still builds cars like they did decades ago, slowly, by hand, and with a story in every screw.
Ultimately, Paolo Barilla’s Sonderwunsch 992 GT3 is far more than a tribute, it’s a fusion of heritage and innovation, a celebration of racing history, and a rolling showcase of what happens when a passionate customer and an iconic brand push the boundaries of what’s possible.
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