The seventh edition of the Porsche Rennsport Reunion was a complete success. A total of 91,000 fans attended the largest gathering of racing icons and Porsche enthusiasts in Laguna Seca, California.
Over the four days of the event, countless items on the program made for astonished faces: including the world premiere of the Porsche 911 GT3 R Rennsport, the demo laps of the Porsche 963 hybrid prototype and the all-electric GT4 e-Performance, as well as the entertaining races with historic motorsport vehicles and tractors.
Historic and new racing cars provided plenty of excitement on the track with their famous "Corkscrew". Numerous presentations, technology workshops, autograph sessions with Porsche celebrities, music concerts and giant "Transformers" figures rounded off the program. "The Rennsport Reunion is absolutely unique. It clearly shows what the Porsche brand means to many people," explains Alwin Springer, who acted as Grand Marshal at the event together with long-time works driver Patrick Long from the USA. The former President of Porsche Motorsport North America added: "Once again, the fans and owners of racing cars were united in their passion. That's what makes the atmosphere so special. For me too: I met countless friends from my career. It felt like a family reunion of the best kind."
The future: focus on Porsche 911 GT3 R racing and GT4 e-Performance
One of the highlights of Rennsport Reunion 7 was the presentation of the new Porsche 911 GT3 R Rennsport. Former Porsche racing driver Jörg Bergmeister completed several demo runs with it at Laguna Seca Raceway.
Bergmeister's lap times in the up to 456 KW (650 hp) Porsche 911 GT3 R Rennsport, which is limited to 77 cars, were four seconds faster than the fastest Porsche 911 GT3 R time from the IMSA qualifying session at the same venue in May. Completion of the first Porsche 911 GT3 R Rennsport is planned for mid-2024.
The Mission X concept car and the Porsche Vision 357 Speedster were also on display in the paddock. As part of the GT4 e-Performance World Tour, the German Marco Seefried chased around the legendary circuit near the Pacific coast in an all-electric racing car with up to 800 kW (1088 hp).
The present: Porsche Penske Motorsport sends the 963 onto the track
The Rennsport Reunion also served as a warm-up for the grand finale of the 2023 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The 963 from the Porsche Penske Motorsport works team completed daily show laps at the same venue where the hybrid prototype achieved its first pole position in May of this year. Factory drivers Dane Cameron from the USA and Felipe Nasr from Brazil alternated with local Californian hero Patrick Long at the wheel of the 515 kW (700 hp) race car.
The Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup North America provided additional spectacle at the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. In the two races, 37 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars of the latest generation took to the track and offered thrilling motorsport.
The history: over 300 historic vehicles at racing speed through the "Corkscrew"
Since the first edition of the Rennsport Reunion in 2001, the event has been a celebration of Porsche's motorsport history. At this year's event, it was once again legendary racing cars that staged the most passionate and emotional scenes on the Laguna Seca stage.
A total of over 300 cars took to the track in numerous classes: from the delicate and lightweight Bergspyder to the "horsepower monster" Porsche 917/30 from the 1973 Can-Am season and the RS Spyder, which enjoyed maximum success in the USA, to the Le Mans winner 919 Hybrid. Two races with Porsche tractors provided very special entertainment. Factory drivers Felipe Nasr, Matt Campbell and Nick Tandy, among others, showed off their skills on the historic tractors. Patrick Long fought a duel with Jörg Bergmeister, who had borrowed a Porsche tractor from Long's father Jon.
