The mysterious patent Porsche 917 Tribute reveals the new "Gran Turismo Sport".

Patent drawings of what appears to be a production version of Porsche's 2019 917 Tribute were published online last month.

The drawings, discovered on the German Patent and Trademark Office's website, quickly led to rumors that Porsche would produce small quantities for wealthy circuit enthusiasts, as it did with the modern 935 circuit car.

However, CAR reported Thursday that the patent drawings are actually for a virtual version of a stunning concept that will be available in Sony's PlayStation 4's Gran Turismo Sport. The concept car is one of three Porsches that will appear in the video game, the other being a Taikan; the third is said to be a more extreme car.

Porsche initially unveiled the 917 Tribute Concept to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the original 917 endurance racer. However, it was later discovered that the concept was not actually developed with the 50th anniversary in mind. In fact, work on the concept dates back to 2012 and was completed in 2014, five years before the anniversary.

Compared to the original concept, the car in the patent drawing is equipped with headlights and taillights, fuel filler caps, and windows. It also has more advanced aerodynamic features not seen in the concept, such as wide roof-mounted air intakes and a huge rear wing.

The car in the patent drawings also has an actual cabin, but it has only one seat, which would make sense if it were designed purely for the virtual world. However, it is unclear when it will actually be available for download.