A 20-year-old Porsche Carrera GT from Puerto Rico has been given a second life through Porsche’s Sonderwunsch Manufaktur, emerging not only in factory-fresh mechanical condition but also wearing one of the most iconic liveries in the brand’s racing history. Owned by Victor Gómez, the 2005 Carrera GT has been fully recommissioned and reimagined in the
The Salzburg livery traces its roots to the legendary Porsche 917 short-tail, car number 23, driven to victory at Le Mans by Hans Herrmann and Richard Attwood. Prepared by the Porsche Alpenstraße dealership in Salzburg, the striking colour scheme has since become deeply embedded in motorsport folklore. Gómez chose this historic look as the inspiration for his own car, linking a modern Porsche icon to one of the brand’s defining racing moments.
As part of the Factory Re-Commission programme under Sonderwunsch, the Carrera GT was completely dismantled and rebuilt. Its naturally aspirated V10 engine was overhauled from the ground up, while carbon-fibre components were restored and recoated to return the car to as-new technical condition. Originally finished in silver, the car then underwent an extensive transformation to adapt the Salzburg design to the very different proportions of the Carrera GT compared to the 917 race car.
The process was far from straightforward. Designers began with sketches and digital renderings before physically taping the body to refine the flow and balance of the lines. Only after this painstaking development were paint templates produced. The final finish, hand-painted in Guards Red and white and complete with the famous number 23, is protected by a transparent film, allowing Gómez to enjoy the car on public roads back home in Puerto Rico.
The exterior detailing goes beyond paint alone. Matt black carbon fibre is used extensively to contrast with the vivid colours, appearing on the roof panels, A and B pillars, mirror caps, front air ducts and the rear diffuser. The engine cover grilles are finished in matt black anodising, while the original five-spoke alloy wheels are painted black and fitted with coloured Porsche crests.
Inside, the Carrera GT reflects the same level of personalisation. Large sections of the cabin are trimmed in Guards Red Alcantara, including parts of the dashboard, door panels, centre console and steering wheel. The front luggage compartment and the custom luggage set are also finished in the same suede-like material, creating a bold and immersive interior atmosphere.
Matt carbon fibre continues inside, used for the seat shells, dashboard air vent covers and instrument binnacle. For the seat centres, side bolsters and headrests, Porsche’s upholstery specialists selected black FIA-approved textile borrowed from the 918 Spyder, a nod to motorsport safety standards. The choice subtly echoes the original 917, which also featured two seats, a requirement for endurance racers of its era.
Throughout the project, Gómez travelled to Germany multiple times to follow the progress closely. The end result is a Carrera GT restored to zero kilometres and tailored entirely to its owner’s vision, blending historic racing heritage with one of Porsche’s most revered road cars. It stands as a rolling tribute to the past, crafted with modern precision and intended not just for display, but to be driven and enjoyed.