Pic of the Week – 2007 Porsche 911 GT3 RS

Snapped at the Geneva Motor Show held from 6-7 March 2007, was this new (Type 997) 911 GT3 RS, resplendent in striking Orange. While particularly well suited for track use, the car also meets all requirements for road-legal sports cars. In common with its illustrious predecessors, the 997 GT3 RS provides an homologation model for use in a range of racing series just as the Carrera RS 2.7 of 1972 and the 1991 Type 964 911 RS did in their day.

The 997 GT3 RS is 44 mm wider at the rear than the 911 GT3. The interior of the 911 GT3 RS is fitted with two lightweight bucket seats made of carbon-fibre composite materials, together with a bolt-in roll cage and pre-wiring for a battery master switch. A six-point seatbelt for the driver and a fire extinguisher are also provided. Internal trims are black, with the roof lining, steering wheel and gear stick trimmed in high-quality Alcantara leather. Available exterior paint finishes are Arctic Silver metallic or Black, or as an option, the GT3 RS can also be obtained in Orange (as this Geneva car shows) or Green.
The normally aspirated engine boasts a displacement of 3.6-litres that generates 415 hp (305 kW) at 7600 rpm, with a maximum rev limit of 8400 rpm. Thanks to a close-ratio six-speed transmission with a single-mass flywheel and a 20 kg lower vehicle weight, the 911 GT3 RS  covers the zero to 62 mph (100 km/h) sprint in just 4.2 seconds, that’s one tenth of a second faster than the GT3. And it takes just 13.3 seconds to hit 124 mph (200 km/h) and onto a maximum speed of 187 mph (310 km/h).
Of the more recent track-friendly models, the 997 GT3 RS (Gen.1) is still a favourite amongst the Porsche fraternity…it’s not hard to see why!
Written by: Glen Smale
Images by: Virtual Motorpix/Glen Smale