From Carrera RS 2.7 to GT3 RS – a brief history of Porsche RS cars (2024)

The most significant Porsche RS cars

Five decades since it first appeared, the Porsche RS badge continues to enthral

From Carrera RS 2.7 to GT3 RS – a brief history of Porsche RS cars (1)
Just two letters, but so much meaning. Let’s take a look at the most significant RS cars Porsche has ever produced
What does Porsche RS stand for?RS is short for ‘rennsport’, which means racing in German. The Porsche RS story started back in 1957 when the name was applied to the 718 RSK race car, six years before the first 911 was even launched. Since then, the name has become synonymous with innovation and high-performance – and it’s a designation that continues to thrive today. Here are the most significant cars to ever wear the RS badge.
From Carrera RS 2.7 to GT3 RS – a brief history of Porsche RS cars (2)
1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7Conceived as a hom*ologation car to allow Porsche to go racing with it, the Carrera RS 2.7 was released to the public in 1973 as a road car. To call it a significant car for Porsche would be an understatement – even today, the legend of the Carrera RS 2.7 continues. It was the first Porsche fitted with the famous ‘ducktail’ spoiler, and it pioneered lightweight innovations that meant the Carrera RS 2.7 delivered a raw, thrilling driving experience. Even by modern standards, its performance figures impress – 210PS, 0-100km/h in 5.8 seconds and a top speed of 245km/h from a car that weighed 960kg. Imagine that 50 years ago? Originally planned as a limited run of 500 cars, the Carrera RS 2.7 was so successful that Porsche ended up selling 1,580. Today, it remains one of the most collectible Porsche models.
From Carrera RS 2.7 to GT3 RS – a brief history of Porsche RS cars (3)
1991 Porsche 911 (type 964) RSIn 1991 another RS legend was born – the 964 RS. This model, built on the 964-generation of 911, was the road version of a car built for GT racing and once again impressed with its weight-saving regime. Porsche paid particular attention to stripping out as much weight as possible, from introducing thinner windows to removing sound-deadening materials and even stripping out luxuries like air-conditioning, electric windows and cruise control. Power from the air-cooled engine was raised to 264PS as well as mechanical upgrades such as a limited-slip differential and a lightweight flywheel. The suspension of the 964 RS was also lowered by 40mm and stiffened for more dynamic handling.
From Carrera RS 2.7 to GT3 RS – a brief history of Porsche RS cars (4)
2003 Porsche 911 (type 996) GT3 RSWhen the 996-era 911 was introduced, air-cooled engines were replaced with water-cooled powerplants for the 911 range. But that wasn’t the only significant news for this particular sportscar. In 1999, the 996 also welcomed the debut of the GT3 name. Like previous RS models, the GT3 cars majored on weight saving and a certain rawness, but the new badge didn’t spell the end of the RS moniker. In 2003, the 996 GT3 RS was launched, an even more track-focused car that brought with it carbon brakes, a polycarbonate window, carbon hood and rear wing. The styling of the GT3 RS also harked back to the Carrera RS 2.7, with GT3 RS decals and red or blue wheels.
From Carrera RS 2.7 to GT3 RS – a brief history of Porsche RS cars (5)
2011 Porsche 911 (type 997) GT3 RS 4.0The 997 911 was launched in 2004 as the sixth generation of the model and replaced the 996. Eventually, there were GT3 and GT3 RS versions, but it was the 2011 GT3 RS 4.0 that would act as the swansong for the range. For the first time an RS car’s engine displacement exceeded 3.8 litres. Quickly garnering the name GT3 RS 4.0, the engine was a 4.0-litre flat six with the crankshaft from the RSR race car, pushing the power up to 500PS and a top speed of 310.6km/h.
From Carrera RS 2.7 to GT3 RS – a brief history of Porsche RS cars (6)
2018 Porsche 911 (type 991) GT2 RSThe fastest road car to lap the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife. Most powerful 911 ever made at the time of its launch. Forza Motorsport cover car. Even by 911 standards, the 991-generation GT2 RS was really rather special. Unveiled at the 2017 Goodwood Festival of Speed, this rear wheel-drive, twin-turbocharged beast produced 700PS. The accompanying performance was suitably dizzying: 0-100km/h took just 2.8 seconds and the car’s intensity didn’t ease up until it hit its 340km/h top speed. As ever with RS cars, the GT2 RS was all about its low kerb weight. There was plenty of carbon fibre as well as polycarbonate windows and a titanium exhaust. In 2018, a year after setting the Nürburgring lap record for a production car in a GT2 RS, Porsche test driver Lars Kern piloted a specially prepared Manthey Racing version to further shave time off that record, bringing the car across the finish line in 6:43.300 minutes.
From Carrera RS 2.7 to GT3 RS – a brief history of Porsche RS cars (7)
2022 Porsche 911 (type 992) GT3 RSLighter, more downforce, more power, the 992 GT3 RS proves once again that Porsche has perfected the formula when it comes to producing the ultimate performance car. In creating the 992 GT3 RS, Porsche spent more than 250 hours in the wind tunnel – the result is 40kg more downforce than before. Porsche also added a host of new tech, including Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus to heighten the driving experience but not at the expense of weight: the GT3 RS tips the scales at a lean 1,450kg. Its 525PS, 4.0-litre naturally aspirated engine will see the car sprint from 0-100km/h in just 3.2 seconds and on to a top speed of 296km/h.
From Carrera RS 2.7 to GT3 RS – a brief history of Porsche RS cars (8)
2021 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RSMeet the most powerful mid-engine car Porsche has ever produced – and the fastest ever Cayman. Following hot on the heels of the acclaimed 718 Cayman GT4, the GT4 RS launched in 2022 to much fanfare and is the first Cayman to get the Rennsport treatment. The recipe is a tried and tested one. Lightweight construction, more downforce, higher engine power and even more direct handling. With 500PS of power available, it’s 80PS more powerful than the standard GT4 – and half a second faster to the 100km/h mark too in just 3.4 seconds. In fact, it’s so fast, it was only 9.4 seconds off the time that the 991 GT2 RS achieved around the Nürburgring. And that was a car that broke the lap record for a production vehicle.
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From Carrera RS 2.7 to GT3 RS – a brief history of Porsche RS cars (2024)

FAQs

What is so special about the GT3 RS? ›

The GT3 RS and S/T models get tuned up to 518 horsepower and come with more aero elements to increase downforce to stick them to the road. The GT3 RS comes with an outrageous rear wing that incorporates a drag-reduction system similar to those on Formula 1 race cars.

How much is a Carrera RS 2.7 worth? ›

A: The top sale price was $1,072,500 for a 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 on Aug 20 2022. Q: What is the lowest sale price of a Porsche 911 Carrera RS - Touring? A: The lowest recorded sale price was $412,000 for a 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 Touring on Sep 28 2019.

Will GT3 RS go up in value? ›

In essence, and with dealer margins aside, over the 14 months since the first UK deliveries, the 991 GT3 RS has appreciated by about 175% from list. Not on quite the near vertical ascent of the 911R's 310% over a similar period, but spectacular nonetheless.

Is GT3 RS faster than Turbo S? ›

The base-level Porsche 911 Turbo already offers 54 more horsepower than the GT3 RS, and 70 more horsepower than the base GT3. With up to 640 horsepower, the Turbo S is a lot more powerful, and significantly faster, than anything in the GT3 lineup.

How rare is a GT3 RS? ›

997.2 GT3 RS 4.0

Chassis development was influenced by the GT2 RS and uses parts from other RS 911s. Front dive planes give additional downforce up front. The car weighs in at 1,360 kg (2,998 lb), giving it a power-to-weight ratio of 365 hp per ton. Only 600 cars were built.

Is the GT3 RS a supercar? ›

Quite literally... For 20 years now, the Porsche 911 GT3 RS has been the track-focused super sports car to beat.

What does GT3 RS stand for? ›

What's the difference between the 911 GT3 and the 911 GT3 RS? The 911 GT3 and 911 GT3 RS are cars that have both been developed to make every second count, but that RS suffix – standing for 'Rennsport' or 'racing' – signals the intentions of the 911 GT3 RS from the moment you see it written along its flanks.

Is Porsche GT3 RS Limited Edition? ›

Porsche has been talking about it since last fall, but now it has officially released this limited-edition car with the impressive name of 911 GT3 RS Tribute to Carrera RS.

How many Carrera RS were built? ›

The 964-based Carrera RS was unveiled in 1991 as a limited-production, lightweight high- performance version of the Carrera 2 production car. Porsche produced a total of 2,276 examples of the 964 RS; 1,910 of those were the standard stripped out version with bucket seats and thin carpet.

What is the 1972 Carrera 2.7 RS? ›

Torque was a strong 188 foot-pounds at 5,100 rpm. The Carrera RS employed a Type 915/08 five-speed transaxle, and there were powerful disc brakes at all four corners. When properly set up, the Carrera RS 2.7 was capable of almost 240 km/h (150 mph).

How many 911 GT2 RS are there? ›

With just 1,000 cars produced, the GT2 RS is one of the rarest 911s to come out of Porsche in recent years and represents a high watermark for the brand as one of the fastest 911s ever produced.

How many 997.2 gt3rs are there? ›

997.2 GT3 RS 4.0

Chassis development was influenced by the GT2 RS and uses parts from other RS 911s. Front dive planes give additional downforce up front. The car weighs in at 1,360 kg (2,998 lb), giving it a power-to-weight ratio of 365 hp per ton. Only 600 cars were built.

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