After returning to the paddock, my son and I came across one of Porsche’s racing displays highlighting Porsche Motorsports. The two cars showcased raced in the ALMS series, and were competitors in the LMP2 class; the RS Spyder. The yellow RS Spyder was campaigned by the Penske / DHL team, and the second, white RS Spyder sponsored by MuscleMIlk.
Immediately to the right of the Porsche Motorsports display was a series of open paddock bays, which revealed a second display, this one a showcase of 911 based race cars. The display featured a range of competition models from the earliest (a 1964 911), to the latest, the 2011 GT3R hybrid.
After shooting this image above ( a 1967 911 R), I was passed by a group of people all moving towards the car for a photo opportunity. I overheard a man ask if he should stand by the door, and when I turned to see what was happening, I realized the man standing by the door of car #181 was in fact Dr. Wolfgang Porsche. What better indication of the significance of this event, than to have a member of the Porsche family in attendance, and obviously enjoying himself. (This would not be the last time that we would encounter Dr. Porsche at Rennsport).
1971 911 STR East Africa Rally car, owned by photographer and race driver Jeff Zwart.
1973 911 Carrera RSR, and the winner of the 68th (and last) Targa Florio road race.
1976 Porsche 934 Turbo
1977 Porsche 934 1/2, from the Bruce Canepa collection
1978 Interscope Porsche 935 K3
1986 all wheel drive Rothmans Porsche type 961, as raced at Le Mans. (As noted in its bio, this is the only type 961 in existence).
(Below) 1998 GT1 LM (Le Mans). This was the car that scored the outright victory for Porsche at Le Mans back in 1998, which was added to the ongoing celebration of the company’s 50th anniversary.
2004 911 GT3 RSR.
(Below) 2007 GT3 Cup car – Pikes Peak class winner and record holder, driven by Jeff Zwart
2011 GT3R hybrid, still wearing the track fallout from its last race.
Now it was time to begin exploring the open paddock area, to look for other hidden Porsche treasures…
Gunnar Racing’s 914-6 T (www.gunnarracing.com)
Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV, Part 4 coverage to follow…
(All photos by the author)