2009 Porsche 911 (997) GT3 RSR
Pilots: É. Hélary, E. Maris, J-M. Merlin
Team: IMSA Performance Matmut
Race: 34th GC (13th GT Am class) at Le Mans in 2014
Spark - S423 (resin)
Published 11/18/18
Porsche 911 (997) GT3 RSR #75 (06/14/17):
Introduced as Porsche’s flagship GT racer in substitution to the 996 GT3, the 997 was a slight improvement over its predecessor. The new engine was a 3996 cm³ six-cylinders boxer with 24 valves and DOHC that produced 455 hp. Porsche also issued 18” BBS wheels fitted with 12”-wide tires on the front and 13”-wide on the rear. The new huge wheels improved a good deal cornering and traction in general. But maybe the most important improvement was the headlights. The design department (finally!) dropped the ungodly terrible fried-egg style of headlights. Instead, Porsche used elegant round ones, like it’s only proper and decent for a 911. Finally the Earth was spinning around the sun again and happiness returned to the land…
French team Matmut bought chassis #WP0ZZZ99Z9S799915b new in 2009. The team campaigned the car three times at La Sarthe, and 2014 was the car’s last race. That year RSR #67 finished in 34th place, 62 laps behind the winning Audi R18. But what really made the car shine was the livery. With a true art car livery, it became known as the “Richard Mille Porsche”. The car was fully wrapped in a graphic of a Richard Mille watch movement. According to Richard Mille, you will find every single part of their movement in the art work 😮.
In scale, once again it’s Spark at its finest – a gorgeous model. So, a Porsche art car? OF COURSE I wanted one! I’ve been after the RSR #67 since I first saw it last year, and finally scored one. Very possibly the GT3 (with all it’s variations) is the most prolific Le Mans 1:43 model. So it’s understandable to pass up on “another GT3”. But the art car livery makes it VERY special. That being so, I would say it’s a must buy for the Le Mans art car aficionado. Like me.
If my math is right, there are 14 or 15 Porsche art cars that raced at Le Mans available in 1:43. So I’m still four or five short. And some of them seem to be made of unobtanium, since I never saw them for sale. For instance, the Troy Lee 2011 #81 Flying Lizard cars is easy to find. Yet the sister #80 car is much harder. And what about the X-Ray #40 935? That one is really rare. It’s going to be rough, but I’ll try to get them all…🤑