GT3 RS | FerrariChat

GT3 RS

Discussion in 'Porsche' started by joe sackey, Oct 26, 2013.

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  1. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ
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    #1 joe sackey, Oct 26, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    The End of an Era

    Beginning with the 1972 911 Carrera 2.7 RS, the RennSport name has come to symbolize all that Porsche has accomplished in Motorsports. The GT3 RS reignited the flame of the much-missed original RS, and it set a benchmark which all its competitors aspire to today. Even the cabin followed the austere all-black RennSport tradition. Few sports cars come anywhere near the GT3 RS's race car precision, and yet can be driven to work! This is perhaps the primary reason for the variant's popularity & success, and the car is truly a race car for the road (rather than the other way around).

    The GT3, named after the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) GT3 European Championship it was designed to compete in, uses the famed Mezger-bred race-inspired engine that derives its heritage from the units used in the Porsche 962 and Porsche 911 GT1 race cars. It has won championship and endurance races, including the GT class of the American Le Mans Series seven times, first overall in the 24 Hours of Daytona, and first overall at the 24 Hours Nürburgring six times.

    Although the model was already a decade old in the form of 996 and 997 Series 1 variants,* for 2010, the Series Two 911 GT3 RS showcased a new 3.8-liter "Mezger flat-six", bringing total power output up to 450*Bhp. Today Hans Mezger is a legendary Porsche figure. Nobody imagined that the flat 6 he designed in 1963 would evolve into a race-winning engine that collected no less than 16 Le Mans victories - a record that surely will never be broken. The GT3 RS is a brilliant union of the legendary Mezger power-plant and a bespoke Porsche Ag Motorsports chassis. Lets not forget the input of the utterly brilliant test driver and development engineer, Walter Rohrl. The GT3 RS's success is also due in no small part to his influence and feedback.

    The fact that the PDK-only 991 model's GT3 appears to be a derivation of the 991 model rather than a seperate model as in the case of the 997 GT3 RS, can only enhance the reputation of the car going forward.

    The GT3 RS doesn't need anyone to champion its cause. Having said that, I don't think anyone will mind that its virtues are extolled and there is a place where useful text, illustrations, images & videos will make a true resource for this Last-of-a-Series car.*
    This car is the last of an era of manual-gearbox hairy beasts, track-ready driver's cars made by Porsche Ag to salute its faithful. What better car to cap off Porsche's first 50 years, a true Swan Song car if ever there was one.

    This thread celebrates these cars, with a focus on the 2010 & 2011 Mk 2 GT3 RS cars.*
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  2. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ
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    [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doneW6aqauE]NEW Porsche 911 GT3 RS (2010) - YouTube[/ame]
     
  3. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ
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    Director of the GT car program for for Porsche Ag, Andreas Preuninger, takes the first produced 2010 Porsche GT3 RS out for a shakedown on the Autobahn

    [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDvzcw3B8uk&feature=player_embedded]2010 Porsche GT3 RS Autobahn Shakedown and Overview - YouTube[/ame]
     
  4. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ
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    #4 joe sackey, Oct 26, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  5. GuyIncognito

    GuyIncognito Nine Time F1 World Champ
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    997.2 GT3 RS is a legend, no doubt.

    here's my question for the crystal ball set:

    clearly the GT3 RS 4.0 is going to be a collectible. in a sense, it already is.

    but what about the "normal" 3.8 RS? is that going to be a collectible, or an also ran? it's not low volume, not the end of an era, and the 991 GT3 in all its variants will run circles around it. so is the 3.8 RS worth collector status? or just a great car to drive/track/race and be done with it?
     
  6. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ
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    For some it will have collector status, for others a track car for the street as well. For sure its the last manual gearbox RS.

    I think the 2011 cars, whether 3.8 or 4.0 can legitimately be looked at as the end on an RS era of manual gearbox cars.

    [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SX8_dRusyLw]911 GT3 RS: Porsche Experience TV - YouTube[/ame]
     
  7. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ
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    The 4.0 is indeed very special, but very similar to the 3.8

    [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jv0Gr5gz1Gw]GT3 RS 4.0: Last Drive Before Hibernation - /CHRIS HARRIS ON CARS - YouTube[/ame]
     
  8. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ
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    #9 joe sackey, Oct 27, 2013
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  9. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ
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    #10 joe sackey, Oct 27, 2013
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  10. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ
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    #11 joe sackey, Oct 27, 2013
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  11. DriveAfterDark

    DriveAfterDark F1 Veteran

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    Great idea for a thread, loving this!

    I personally want a 964 RS above any of the new RS', but the 997 RS' are just as sweet cars, appealing to the core of my driving emotions.
     
  12. Camelot

    Camelot Formula Junior
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    In 10 years 997 will be the classic of water cooled Porsche and RS is the creme de la creme of the 997. Hail to RS...
     
  13. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ
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    #14 joe sackey, Oct 27, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Thank you!

    This thread was not a spontaneous idea. I've followed the GT3 RS closely since 2009 and collected quite a bit of material on it. Once-in-a-while, a car comes along that embodies Automotive Greatness. The GT3 RS is such a car. Simple & Seminal. There are many great cars I encounter in my business as a Ferrari Supercar Specialist (288 GTO/F40/F50/Enzo). There are many cars I applaud. The GT3 RS I stand up and salute.
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  14. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ
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    #15 joe sackey, Oct 27, 2013
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    Two people I also salute for their contribution to perhaps the most seminal sports car are Hans Mezger (for his simple & iconic design, the ultimate iteration of which exists in the GT3 RS), and Walter Rohrl whose development testing produced a car that is the ultimate for a driver.

    The Hans Mezger autobiography "Porsche & Me" is worth a read.
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  15. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ
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    #16 joe sackey, Oct 27, 2013
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  16. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ
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    #17 joe sackey, Oct 27, 2013
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    There is too much Mezger history to write here, but, needless to say the thread's topic is the beneficiary of years of diverse engineering experience.
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  17. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ
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    #18 joe sackey, Oct 27, 2013
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    Although the spiritual father of the car can be seen as Director of the GT car program for for Porsche Ag, Andreas Preuninger, the car we experience today is a result of the feedback of one to the world's greatest driver, Walter Rohrl, understandably proud of its success.
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  18. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ
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    #19 joe sackey, Oct 27, 2013
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    Funny you say this because Rohrl has espoused the same sentiments
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  19. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ
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    I'm sure this has been seen by most before, but allow me to share a short peice on why Rohrl's testing & developmental input might help result in a phenomenal driving car

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ollt2LY0wsU
     
  20. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ
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    #21 joe sackey, Oct 27, 2013
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  21. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ
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    #22 joe sackey, Oct 27, 2013
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  22. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ
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    #23 joe sackey, Oct 27, 2013
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  23. joe sackey

    joe sackey Five Time F1 World Champ
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    #25 joe sackey, Oct 27, 2013
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