The road to the future

The Head of Porsche GT Cars on the 911 Carrera RS 2.7

Andreas Preuninger, Head of Porsche GT Cars, has a special relationship with the 911 Carrera RS 2.7: The first car he was in charge of at Porsche was a 996 GT3 RS. In developing it, he drew inspiration from the 911 Carrera RS 2.7, and it became the ultimate solution for motorsport.

In 1972, it became standard practice at Porsche for the first RS model of the 911 to be developed by the same employees who developed the racing cars. The precise aerodynamics designed back then with racing cars in mind still make the 911 Carrera RS 2.7 unique today. “It’s the most direct technology transfer from motorsport to series production that ever occurred. Nothing about this has changed to this day and it is part of living tradition at Porsche,” says Preuninger.

What was so special about the 911 Carrera 2.7 RS of 1972 was its consistently lightweight construction. “An RS model made by Porsche is characterised by the most emotional relationship between the road and motorsport. This is the unfiltered driving experience that Porsche has represented for 50 years,” he adds.

Even now, the technical data still excites Preuninger. With an unladen weight of 960 kg and 210 PS, the RS 2.7 accelerated from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.8 seconds, and could reach 245 km/h. “Those were sensational figures in the early 1970s. And they still are,” he says.

Back then, extreme measures were taken to reduce weight. The developers removed anything that was not absolutely necessary for driving. Every single part was put to the test. Might it be made even lighter? “The employees at the time were breaking new technical ground in many places. With commitment and a sense of creativity, they came up with innovations that we still benefit from today, such as using the rear spoiler on a series production car for the first time.”

With the 911 Carrera RS 2.7, Porsche developed not only an icon, but also some of the DNA that today’s 911 RS and GT vehicles now exhibit. “The 911 Carrera RS 2.7 is a milestone in the Porsche sports car history and continues to shine today,” concludes Preuninger.

The fundamental qualities that characterise all RS models are still evident: consistent lightweight construction and a focus on motorsport customers and racing – just as they were almost 50 years ago.

From 20 September 2022 onwards, the Porsche Museum is showing a special exhibition on 50 years of the 911 Carrera RS 2.7