73 RS….the Pivotal  Collector Car

By Harvey Weidman

 

Homologation is the term used by race organizers to categorize race cars in groups to help make an even playing field at the track.  The groups maybe from a limited production of 25 up to 1000 as some touring classes.  The cars may also be grouped by engine size.  Manufactures are always trying to make the best of any given class.  Porsche was no different. They didn’t want to be in a class that they weren’t competitive.

Porsche had been successful in racing from the beginning with index racing (taking engine size into a formula). To the out right domination of the 917.  However, success had been limited racing the 911 in production classes. The 911R and later the 911ST failed to translate to enough sales for a successful homologation.  They were forced to compete in non production classes without the success they had hoped for.

More planning was needed…..

The RS program was a combination of reverse engineering from race car lessons learned and a high performance street car. The new car would be lighter and more powerful than any previous production model 911. The looks had to impress also. The public was not disappointed from the controversial “duck tail” spoiler to the bold side graphics and color combinations.

The next worry was to insure enough sales to qualify 500 units for homologation in the class they hoped to compete in.  The new RS was such a hit with its aggressive styling and high performance that 500 cars were ordered during the official introduction in September.  Not long into production the 1000 mark was exceeded and the RS was reclassified to yet a better group.

The new car was an unbelievable success in all areas.  It was a great road car in its full road going trim and as a racer in the light weight version very competitive.  However the full race RSR was the headliner.  It dominated nearly all racing venues that it was entered in. Frequently so many were entered that the field looked like a race of Porsches rather than a manufacture’s homologated class. 

Perry Lee’s 73 RS 1 of 16 in Lilac