History & character

Unveiled in August 2010 at the Moscow Motor Show, the 911 GT2 RS (997) is the most extreme of all 997s. Its twin-turbocharged 3.6-litre flat-six, sharpened by GT1 pedigree, develops 620 horsepower delivered exclusively to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox. Stripped of more than 70 kilograms relative to the GT2, and endowed with a carbon bonnet, centre-lock wheels and aluminium suspension components, it achieves a power-to-weight ratio befitting a true racing car.

Built in just 500 examples, the 997 GT2 RS inherits the sobriquet 'widowmaker': its colossal power, pure rear-wheel drive and pared-back electronic assistance demand a driver of genuine ability. In 2010, it posted a Nürburgring lap time of 7 min 18 sec — a record for a road-going Porsche at the time. Now a highly coveted collector's piece, its market value has comfortably surpassed its original asking price. It stands as the apotheosis of the turbocharged 911 in the 997 era, as brutal as it is mesmerising to tame.