1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR #45 Pilots: P. Keller, E. Kremer, C. Schickentanz Team: Porsche Kremer Racing Team Race: 8th overall (1st in GT 3.0 class) at Le Mans in 1973 Minichamps - 430736945 (diecast)
Published 04/28/23
In August of 1972, Dr. Ernst Fuhrmann became Porsche’s new chairman. Even though the 917 project was a massive success, Fuhrmann felt it was a mistake. He believed that it was excessively expensive and, worse, had little relation to the company’s road cars. Therefore, Porsche needed to refocus its competition program into cars more similar to their passenger models. As a result, Porsche would centralize their racing efforts in the 911 platform. At the time, their racing model for Group 4 racing was the 911 ST. However, works cars in big competitions had been sporadic. With that, Furhmann wanted a new “general” race car for Group 4, consequently they needed an homologation model. And that car was the 1972 911 Carrera RS 2.7. Building a minimum of 500 units, Porsche could then make their race car: the 911 Carrera RSR.
Since the civilian Carrera RS was basically a street legal race car, Porsche didn’t have to fumble too much with the RSR project. And it was not a converted street car, Porsche built it from the ground up for pure track use. Therefore, Porsche tried every way possible to save weight, eliminating almost 80 kg from the already lightweight RS. The RSR also acquired massive fender flares, central oil-cooler air intake, and ultra-wide Fuchs wheels. Obviously however, the RSR had a more powerful engine. Porsche expanded the RS’s 2.7 boxer-6 to 2807 cm³. With SOHC and a compression ratio of 10.3:1, it delivered 300 hp and 291.5 NM of torque. With a 5-speed manual gearbox, it could go from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.6 seconds. Top speed was around 286 km/h. All in all, Porsche produced 55 Carrera RSR models, selling them to privateers.
Kremer Racing bought chassis #911.360.0610 directly from Porsche in March of 1973. Being a longtime partner to Porsche, Kremer was one of the first to buy the new RSR. And Kremer put their new car to good use right away. Unfortunately however, the first success only came at Nürburgring, when the car won its class in May. Nonetheless, in June, at La Sarthe, RSR #45 came in eighth overall and first in GT 3.0. Porsche had two 3.0 and one 2.8 RSR in their works team. One (in the S 3.0 class) managed a fourth place overall and their only 2.8 RSR finished in 14th. Albeit having factory support, it’s not every day you see a privateer to beat the Porsche works team.
In scale, this RSR #45 is a model that I would call “honest”. An older mold from Minichamps, the plastic windshield wipers and dead eye headlights are a detraction. And, if it had marked tires like the #58 above, that would be a BIG plus. Even so, it’s a (quite) nice model, nothing to be ashamed of having. So unless you can secure the FAR rarer Spark version, this is a good acquisition. And factoring in that I found it for a great price, I’m really happy with it.