HISTORY AND TECH
In spring 2003, production of the second-generation GT3 began. Normally, this would serve as homologation of the 996 GT3 R competition version, but there were some detail changes Porsche wished to make to the racing specification, largely to the rear suspension.
The GT3 R’s handling was compromised by excess camber angles, which meant the rear tyres didn’t stay absolutely flat on the tarmac. Overcoming this by fitting competition-specific hub carriers and suspension arms would require a separate homologation.
Roland Kussmaul, who under Hartmut Kristen effectively ran the Motorsport department, proposed a run of 200 special GT3s for this purpose, but his protégé, Andreas Preuninger, now manager, High Performance Cars, came up with a more sophisticated proposition. Why not make something more of this homologation model, using it to revive the RS brand? The 911 RS was a reference in Porsche sporting history, but disappeared when the GT3 took over as the enthusiast’s 911. The RS could be lighter, louder and nearer to a pure track car – very much in the 2.7 Carrera RS tradition.
Knowing that the conservative Vorstand wouldn’t authorise anything without assurances that the venture would be profitable, Andreas calculated that if they made nearer 1,000 cars than Roland’s 200,
