Porsche has a longer history of racing – and winning – at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca than perhaps any other car company. At the legendary track’s very first race in October of 1957, a Porsche 550 RS Spyder took the overall win of the SCCA National Laguna Seca Championship. Since then, dozens of Porsches have competed in and won races at the track, piloted by some of the most famous drivers in the world.

Porsche’s racing history at Laguna Seca is perhaps why the fourth edition of the Rennsport Reunion is the best yet. The five historic racing classes are packed with legendary race cars and drivers. Watching a trio of 935s spiral through the corkscrew makes you feel like you’ve gone back in time to the 1970s, or watching a 962 blast down the front straight transports you directly to the 1980s.

There were plenty of examples of Porsche’s modern race car on track at Rennsport, as well. Dozens of cars competed in the Cayman Interseries, 911 Invitational, 911 Cup and PCA races, and Porsche’s recently retired racing prototype, the RS Spyder, was also on track. The RS Spyder has a history at Laguna Seca as well, winning the LMP2 class in its debut at the track in 2005.

Whether it’s the vintage racers of the 1950s or ’60s, the flamboyant 935s and prototypes of the 1970s and ’80s, or the modern race cars, there was something for every Porsche fan at Rennsport IV. Click through our gallery above to see a sample of what was on track at Laguna Seca this past weekend.

Rennsport Reunion IV: 350 Porsches take to the track originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Oct 2011 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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When Porsche announced that Rennsport Reunion IV would be held at the famous Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, we knew that the triannual celebration of the marque wasn’t something to be missed. We made sure our calendars were clear for the third weekend in October. Now that Rennsport is less than a month away, we have even more details about what’s in store for the event.

The last time Porsche was the featured marque at the Monterey Historics, nearly 150 examples took to the track. We thought that was a lot, but it will be nothing compared to when Porschephiles from around the world descend on Laguna Seca for Rennsport. According to the organizers, no less than 350 Porsches will take part in the on-track racing, and an additional 50 historic models will be on display in the paddock, many shipped over directly from the Porsche museum in Stuttgart. In addition, the newly released 2012 Porsche 911 will be making its first North American appearance.

We’ll be in Monterey for Rennsport in just a few weeks to provide you with daily live coverage, but until then you can read more about the Porsches that will be on display after the jump.

Continue reading 350 Porsches set to descend on Laguna Seca for Rennsport Reunion IV

350 Porsches set to descend on Laguna Seca for Rennsport Reunion IV originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Sep 2011 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Thirty years ago, Walter Röhrl and his co-driver Christian Geistdörfer very nearly won the San Remo Rally, after a comeback that would have been one for the ages. Röhrl and Geistdörfer were up against a field of faster, more powerful four-wheel-drive cars in their rear-wheel-drive Porsche 911 SC, and somehow managed to pull within an eyelash of victory.

Unfortunately, a broken driveshaft forced the pair to retire, leaving Michele Mouton’s Audi Quattro to run away with the race. Now, exactly thirty years after their heartbreak in San Remo, Röhrl and Geistdorfer are back in their 911 SC for the five-day, 2000-km Targa Tasmania. The rally starts today, and you can follow Röhrl and Geistdörfer’s progress here at Porsche UK.

The car that Röhrl drove in the 1981 San Remo rally was thrown together last minute because he was without a drive until just before the start of the race. The ill-fated San Remo run was the car’s only outing in professional competition. For this year’s Targa Tasmania, the car was found in a garage and restored to its 1981 competition specification.

[Source: Porsche]

Continue reading Porsche’s Walter Röhrl, Christian Geistdörfer team up 30 years later for Targa Tasmania

Porsche’s Walter Röhrl, Christian Geistdörfer team up 30 years later for Targa Tasmania originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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