The Porsche 911 has been a part of GT racing in almost every ruleset for decades, and the GTE formula was no different, but the 911 RSR from 2017 onwards was a very, very different sort of Porsche 911!
The 2017 RSR featured not only an extraordinary screaming soundtrack from its 4 litre c.375 kw 6 cylinder ‘Boxer’ normally aspirated engine, but a drivetrain arrangement effectively reversed from its predecessor with the engine and gearbox reversed, the 2017 car sporting an engine mounted ahead of the rear axle – effectively a mid-engined 911 (the first since the 911 GT1).
The new car had better weight distribution, further assisted with a front-mounted fuel tank, and allowed a deeper and wider rear diffuser (allowed in the new GTE regulations from 2017), though this was hampered in the 2017 car because the exhaust ran through the central aspects of the diffuser.
From 2019 an updated car – dubbed the 911 RSR-19 – arrived, based on the Porsche 991.2 version of the 911 with bodywork amended as a result. Whilst outwardly broadly similar there were a huge number of detail changes with some more obvious than others, including changes to the exhaust system, now with two tailpipes that exited to the side ahead of the rear wheels (the car below featuring additional silencing at the cars roll-out at Weissach) and the engine changed from a 4 litre to a 4.2 litre unit.
The cars saw service in both factory and privateer hands in the FIA WEC, IMSA Weathertech Sportscar Championship and European Le Mans Series scoring title wins everywhere.
There were no fewer than four class wins at Le Mans, two apiece in GTE Pro and GTE Am with the factory team taking wins in 2018 (with the infamous ‘Pink Pig’ tribute car and 2022, Proton Competition taking the AM win in 2018 and Project 1 winning in 2019. Another notable moment was pole position in 2021 in GTE Pro for the privateer HubAuto car.
In the FIA WEC there was, surprisingly, just a single title win in each class, both in the 2018/19 ‘Super Season”!
IMSA’s GTLM title went to Porsche in 2019 with the Michelin Endurance Cup going to the 911 in 2017.
Whilst the RSR never won at the Rolex 24 Hours it did take no fewer than four consecutive Sebring 12 Hours wins from 2018 – 2021 and three wins at Petit Le Mans too including the very last GTLM race in 2021.
The ELMS meanwhile saw no fewer than four title wins for the RSRs, all for Proton Competition, in 2018, 2020, 2022 and in the final season in 2023. Proton indeed finished the GTE era with a collection of no fewer than 16 911 RSRs across both the 2017 and 2019 versions.
In total the two generations of the 911 RSR took part in 133 races scoring 53 class wins, 113 other podium finishes and no fewer than eight Championship wins from 2017 – 2023.
The 911 RSR also completed the GTE era with the record of winning the final races in all three Championships it contested, ELMS, FIA WEC and IMSA.
