You don’t have to take our word for it that the first-gen Porsche Cayenne is a darn good off-roader without any aftermarket bits and bobs attached to it. YouTube is your friend here.

However, imagine what would a 2004 Cayenne be able to pull off on rough terrain if someone prepared it for such challenges. Oh, wait, it happened, because Canada’s Flat Six has built a Cayenne that’s bordering into motorsport territory - at least as far as looks go.

The Rothmans livery is arguably one of the classiest ways of wrapping up a race car, right up there on the same pedestal as Gulf or Martini. The white and dark blue color combo has been flaunted by Porsche race cars of the 1980s left, front, and center.

Successful racers such as the 956 and Le Mans-winning 962C wore it, as it was the case for the Porsche 953 and 959 – which in 1986, took a first and second finish at Dakar.

Aside for the Rothmans livery, Flat Six’s 2004 Cayenne sits on a lifted suspension courtesy of Bilstein dampers and OZ racing wheels shod in BF Goodrich rubber. A 4.5-liter V-8 roars from under the hood and we’re told it was tweaked for more power: 500 horses instead of the standard-spec 450 horsepower rating.

Sure, it might not win Dakar, but this Cayenne was built to eat off-road abuse for breakfast so we’re hoping it finds just the right owner.