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Porsche turns the 700-hp 911 GT2 RS into the track car it deserves to be

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Image used with permission by copyright holder

Porsche introduced the all-new 2020 911 at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show, but it’s not done updating the current model. It will release a sexy Speedster in early 2019, and it unveiled a Clubsport version of the 911 GT2 RS — the most powerful production 911 ever made — alongside the new model in Los Angeles.

Sheathed in frenetic bodywork and wielding a bludgeon of an engine, the regular 911 GT2 RS is the kind of car that puts a shakedown on every other track day whip. Of all the 911 versions Porsche has made in the last two decades, the GT2 is by far the least forgiving. That being said, Porsche claims the latest model has been tamed. Tell us, does 700 horsepower and rear wheel drive sound tame to you? Borrowing the 3.8-liter, flat-six engine from the 911 Turbo S, the GT2 RS turns up the heat to 700 horses and 553 pound-feet of torque. The only transmission available is Porsche’s seven-speed dual-clutch unit, which might irritate purists but undeniably leads to faster acceleration figures and lap times.

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Porsche estimates a 0-to-60-mph sprint of 2.7 seconds, but given 911 Turbo S models (with 120 fewer horsepower) have been clocked at 2.7 seconds by independent sources, we’d wager the GT2 RS is being underrated. It lapped the Nurburgring track in Germany in 6 minutes and 47.3 seconds. The last big number is the GT2’s top speed: 211 mph. That’s 6 mph higher than the Turbo S.

Ensuring the GT2 RS stays cool is a new water injection system (similar to that of the BMW M4 GTS). And helping the supercar stay planted is a set of Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires with 325-section width at the rear (the widest rubber ever fit to a production 911). For those who want even more lunacy, Porsche offers a $31,000 Weissach package that cuts 40 pounds from the car via carbon anti-roll bars, magnesium wheels, and a carbon fiber trunk lid.

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2019 Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport
Image used with permission by copyright holder
2019 Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport
Image used with permission by copyright holder
2019 Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport
Image used with permission by copyright holder
2019 Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport
Image used with permission by copyright holder
2019 Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport
Image used with permission by copyright holder
2019 Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport
Image used with permission by copyright holder
2019 Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Clubsport version (pictured above) of the GT2 RS unveiled at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show turns the dial up a notch. It was designed for the track, it’s not street-legal, and it comes ready to race thanks to a built-in roll cage, a single bucket seat, and a six-point safety harness. The carbon fiber steering wheel is sourced from the GT3 R, and the interior has been stripped to reduce weight, but Porsche nonetheless built the Clubsport with convenience features like air-conditioning and power-operated mirrors. Mechanically, the Clubsport and the standard GT2 RS are identical.

The Porsche 911 GT2 RS costs $294,250, though you’re too late if you haven’t ordered one yet. It sold out in just over two months, according to British magazine Autocar. The 200 examples of the GT2 RS Clubsport Porsche will make are still available as of writing. Pricing starts at $478,000 excluding taxes, shipping, and import fees. For the ultimate evolution of the GT2 RS, enthusiasts should get in line for the chance to buy the heritage-laced, track-only 935 that’s limited to just 77 examples worldwide.

Miles Branman
Miles Branman
Former Contributor
Miles Branman doesn't need sustenance; he needs cars. While the gearhead gene wasn't strong in his own family, Miles…
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