When it was launched in 2003, the GT3 RS came with the same 3.6-litre Mezger powerplant of the 996.2 GT3, which, unbelievably, wasn’t bestowed with any further tuning from Weissach. With an identical power output of 380bhp, you could reasonably assume the usual Rennsport résumé of strict weight saving would guarantee the RS of its superior stature. However, the GT3 RS enjoyed only a 20kg saving over its GT3 sister, thanks to a carbon bonnet, fixed rear wing, polycarbonate rear screen, and the removal of sound deadening. This meant a reduced 0-60mph time of 0.1 seconds, hardly noticeable in the real world.
Those stats, admittedly lukewarm on paper, didn’t exactly inspire GT3 owners to trade up for the all-new Rennsport, especially when the privilege had a price hike of more…