Evolution of Rennsport
It’s incredible to think we are just two years away from the 911 Rennsport’s momentous half-century. Through 50 years of renewed excellence, an RS is the reference point for the 911, representing the model in its ultimate form for the road and track.
Porsche’s Rennsport lineage is rich: each new model is considered a halo car in its own right, defining the era in which they hail from. Many remain highly sought after by collectors as well as enthusiasts today, with even the most financially humble RS setting you back in the region of £130,000. And at the other end, you might well be chasing seven figures.
The programme is bookended by the 2.7RS and 991.2 GT3 RS, two models which, rather serendipitously, we’ve lined up for a spirited drive through the Dorset countryside today.
There are precisely 45 years between them, the black 2.7 Carrera RS hailing from 1973, while the 991.2 GT3 RS is a 2018 model year and therefore a ‘batch one’-spec example (batch two cars had an extensive reworking of engine breathing to comply with new Euro 6 emissions).
Sitting side by side, it’s pure David vs Goliath: the 2.7RS looks minuscule next to the 991, almost toy-like. However, our mission today isn’t to compare the first and latest Rennsports – this would be a fruitless exercise whereby the 991.2 GT3 RS would surely outgun, outbreak and outgrip the 1973 RS in every way (though I suspect the latter might offer a
