Now Reading: Red Bull Advanced Technologies Applies F1 Engineering to Singer Porsche Restorations
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Red Bull Advanced Technologies Applies F1 Engineering to Singer Porsche Restorations
Red Bull Advanced Technologies (RBAT) has partnered with California-based restoration specialist Singer to solve a long-standing engineering challenge associated with open-roof Porsche 911s from the Type 964 generation.
The collaboration focuses on improving torsional stiffness in 964 Cabriolet and Targa models restored through Singer’s Classic Turbo programme—cars originally built more than 30 years ago and never designed to meet modern rigidity expectations without a fixed roof.
As part of the restoration process, Singer disassembles each donor vehicle down to its steel monocoque. RBAT was then brought in to analyse the exposed chassis using finite element analysis (FEA). The structure was digitally modelled using scanned data and physical measurements, with simulations calibrated against real-world testing to accurately map torsional behaviour.
Once the model was validated, RBAT identified the areas of the chassis under the highest structural load during torsion. Based on this data, the engineering team designed 13 carbon-fibre reinforcement structures, positioned to strengthen the open-roof chassis without compromising the original architecture or adding unnecessary weight.
The reinforcements are bonded directly to the monocoque during the rebuild. According to testing carried out on a prototype vehicle, the solution increases torsional rigidity by 175 per cent, bringing the dynamic performance of Cabriolet and Targa models in line with coupe versions.
The increased stiffness improves handling precision, braking stability and overall refinement—key factors for high-performance driving—while retaining the character of the original 964 platform.
For RBAT, the project represents a direct application of Formula 1–derived simulation and materials expertise beyond motorsport. For Singer, it addresses a fundamental limitation of open-top classic 911s without altering their identity.
