Walter Röhrl is having a great time with the Porsche 953 in the snow

When we hear -or read- Walter Röhrl and Porsche in the same sentence, we can only expect a superb result. And indeed, with this pairing the German brand has offered us today, showcasing the former driver’s mastery at the wheel of a true classic, the Porsche 953. With this premise, Röhrl has had the time of his life sliding in the snow at the wheel of this 911 4×4 that won the 1984 Paris-Dakar Rally, so the German had all the more reason to enjoy it.

Since then, the 953 has rested peacefully in the Porsche museum, far from its natural habitat and the most unusual corners of the planet; but Walter Röhrl wanted to remedy that. The two-time world rally champion decided to head to the frozen Lake Zell am See, in the Austrian Alps, to once again demonstrate his abilities and prove that the 911 4×4 is in full working order.

And although the engine of the nine-eleven remains practically intact, it is a naturally aspirated 3.2 boxer with reduced compression so it can better digest the poor-quality fuel that was common on the other side of the Strait decades ago. There are also certain modifications to tackle the toughest conditions. Here we find a full-time all-wheel-drive system that sends 69% of the power to the rear axle and 31% to the front, along with the central differential unit.

Porsche fitted the front axle with an independent suspension system with double wishbones and twin dampers, offering 270 millimetres of travel. At the rear, the axle was reinforced, coil springs were added, and safety was improved with a roll cage. The doors, roof, front wheel arches and windows were made of polycarbonate to save weight.

“Of course, you approach the 953 with a certain respect,” says Röhrl, despite his unquestionable experience behind the wheel of competition cars, “you know what it achieved and the success it had. For a true racing car enthusiast, driving a model like this is incredible.” Despite these remarks from the German, he quickly masters the competition nine-eleven on the snow, a surface on which he has a great deal of experience.

And so Röhrl once again confirms that age is no obstacle to taming the 953; and the Porsche 953 itself proves it still holds its own despite the years on its back, both in life and in inactivity.

Technical specifications of this car

CoupePorsche 91119 versions · from 157,835 €