Celebration of Racing 911’s Across the Ages
The 80th Goodwood Members Meeting saw a celebration of 60 years of the Porsche 911, and to mark the occasion a high speed demonstration with some of the most infamous 911’s flooded the circuit.
Designed by Ferdinand Porsche's grandson, Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, the 911 was first introduced in 1963 as a successor to the Porsche 356.
The design intention was primarily as road cars, but the performance and handling made them a natural choice for racing and in 1967 the first official Porsche 911 race car (911R) was introduced.
Amongst the oldest cars in the precession were an array of 911 Carrera RSR’s. The RSR debuted in 1973 and developed specifically for the FIA's Group 4 regulations, which required production of at least 500 road-going versions.
Sat at the rear axle is a naturally aspirated 2.8-litre flat-six engine, producing around 280 horsepower. The lightweight body made extensive use of aluminium and fibreglass, and had the iconic "ducktail" rear spoiler to improve its aerodynamics.
The RSR achieved victories at events such as the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring. It was also a popular choice among privateer teams, who were able to purchase the homologation version of the car and modify it for competition.
Another instantly recognisable model roaming the track was the 935. first introduced in 1976 to compete in the Group 5 racing category. The car was based on the 911 Turbo road car, but similar to the RSR, modified for racing with a lightweight body made from aluminium and fibreglass, and a powerful 3.0-liter flat-six engine that could produce up to 845 horsepower.
The most distinctive features of the 935 was its "slant nose" front end, which was designed to improve aerodynamics.
The more recent cars included a huge selection of 993 GT2’s . Based on the 993 platform, the GT2 was produced in limited numbers from 1995 to 1998 specifically for GT-class racing.
Powered by a turbocharged 3.6-litre flat-six engine capable 444 horsepower, the GT2 also had a crash diet with alternative parts being produced in exotic materials including carbon fibre.
The 993 GT2 enjoyed considerable success in racing, winning numerous international competitions and establishing itself as one of the most capable sports cars of its era.
By far the fastest car of the session was the 996 GT1 which made its debut at the 1998 24 Hours of Le Mans. The 996 GT1 was driven by a team of experienced Porsche drivers, including Allan McNish, Stéphane Ortelli, and Laurent Aïello. The car quickly proved to be one of the fastest and most reliable in the race taking the team to an overall victory.
The 996 GT1 also enjoyed success in the FIA GT Championship, winning six races in the 1998 season and securing the championship title.
As always Goodwood put on an exceptional celebration bringing together some of the most recognisable and rare 911’s from across the world at the 80th Members Meeting.
Thank you to Goodwood, all the drivers and all the owners for bringing these phenomenal cars into the public eye and stretching their legs around the track.
More images from the high speed demonstration can be found below.
Images and words by Mitcham Media
