---
title: Roland Kussmaul · HICONIUM
description: Roland Kussmaul in the HICONIUM register — one file carrying their credit.
canonical_url: https://hiconium.dev/people/roland-kussmaul
image: https://hiconium.dev/og/people/roland-kussmaul.png
---

> HICONIUM · Index: https://hiconium.dev/llms.txt · Every page: append `.md` or send `Accept: text/markdown`.
> Path: [Home](https://hiconium.dev/) › [People](https://hiconium.dev/people) › Roland Kussmaul
> On this page: [Weight before comfort](#weight-before-comfort) · [Race cars made roadable](#race-cars-made-roadable) · [One file carries this name](#one-file-carries-this-name)

People

# Roland Kussmaul

Porsche racing engineer and test driver, later development chief for race and special vehicles

| Label | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Born | Ludwigsburg, 1943 |

The record

Porsche racing engineer and test driver who, from 1987, was responsible for the technical development of the firm's RS, GT and Cup cars, including the Carrera GT.

Born in Ludwigsburg on 27 September 1943, Kussmaul studied mechanical engineering at Stuttgart University and joined Porsche as an engineer on 1 July 1969. Two years later he left the company's military division for the test-driving department. In 1974, after Peter Falk asked about his suitability for shock-absorber development, Kussmaul moved to the racing department and undertook 911 Carrera RS 2.7 Safari test work.

In 1978 he was technical manager at the East African Safari Rally, and in 1981 project and racing manager for the German Rally Championship, building Walter Röhrl's 924 Carrera GTS in two months. At the 1984 Paris-Dakar, his 911 Carrera 4x4 served as a rolling testbed and finished 26th while René Metge won. As project and racing manager from 1984 to 1986, Kussmaul then finished sixth in a Porsche 959 service car in 1986.

From 1987 Kussmaul was project manager for Cup cars. Porsche credits him with the technical development of the 964-generation 911 RS and RSR, the 993 and 996 GT2, the 996 GT3 and GT3 RS, and the Carrera GT. For the first 911 Carrera 2 Cup of the 964 generation, Porsche assigned Kussmaul the vehicle concept and Herbert Linge management of the series.

Porsche's 2025 Carrera GT account identifies Kussmaul as project leader and Michael Hölscher as head of development. Kussmaul worked with Walter Röhrl on chassis tuning intended to make the LMP 2000-derived V10 usable by non-racing drivers. Carrera GT production ran from autumn 2003 to May 2006. Kussmaul retired from Porsche on 31 December 2009 after 40 years with the company.

### Weight before comfort

Asked why the Carrera GT's clutch pedal had no spring to reduce leverage and travel, Kussmaul told European Car in 2004 that such a spring would have added one kilogram. The production car retained the arrangement without it.

### Race cars made roadable

For the Carrera GT, Kussmaul relied on Walter Röhrl's expertise for chassis tuning. Porsche says their team made the LMP 2000-derived V10 car suitable for dynamic use by non-racing drivers.

The stations

1. 1969–1971 Porsche Engineer, military division
2. 1971–1974 Porsche Test driver
3. 1974–1987 Porsche Racing engineer and rally project manager
4. 1987–2009 Porsche Project manager for Cup cars and technical development of RS, GT and Carrera GT models

The house

[![Porsche](https://hiconium.dev/images/marques/full/porsche.svg)](https://hiconium.dev/manufacturers/porsche)

Credited through Porsche.

In the register

## One file carries this name

- [Porsche Carrera GT Development engineer · Porsche 2003–2006 €1.8M 2003–2006 €1.8M Rating 96.0](https://hiconium.dev/vehicles/porsche/carrera-gt)

The files above are the register's own record of this name. [The people index](https://hiconium.dev/people) holds everyone the register credits.

In their words

> “We had an engine that was built for the extreme – so we gave it a new challenge: everyday life.”

Roland Kussmaul · Porsche Newsroom, 2025

Sources

- [newsroom.porsche.com](https://newsroom.porsche.com/en/2023/history/porsche-congratulates-roland-kussmaul-80th-birthday-33875.html)
- [porsche.com](https://www.porsche.com/stories/innovation/25-years-of-the-porsche-carrera-gt/)
- [newsroom.porsche.com](https://newsroom.porsche.com/en_PAP/2025/history/porsche-25-years-world-premiere-carrera-gt-40609.html)
- [newsroom.porsche.com](https://newsroom.porsche.com/en/press-kits/911-Dakar/The-history.html)
- [newsroom.porsche.com](https://newsroom.porsche.com/en/2024/history/porsche-911-gt3-25-years-performance-37556.html)
- [newsroom.porsche.com](https://newsroom.porsche.com/en/motorsports/porsche-carrera-cup-deutschland-end-30th-season-ceremony-19109.html)
- [motortrend.com](https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/epcp-0401-porsche-carrera-gt)
- [berlinmotorbooks.de](https://berlinmotorbooks.de/en/roland-kussmaul-the-father-of-the-porsche-964-rs/)