Gruppe M Launch A Treat For Porsche Fans
Interesting Mix Of Porsches Past & Present
There was a glittering cast of supporting automotive stars on show at Porsche GB’s Reading headquarters for last Saturday’s February 28th Gruppe M / Tech 9 launch.

Pride of place went to the Derek Bell / Stefan Bellof Porsche 956 and the 1998 Le Mans 24 Hours winning 911 GT1-98 of McNish, Aiello and Ortelli: Gruppe M’s 911 RSR was unveiled almost in the shadow of these two powerful symbols of past Weissach racing glory.

The huge plasma screen was put to good use too, with a video reminding us of Tech 9’s 2003 successes (the car owner, above), which was then followed by the opening scenes from the sublime Le Mans feature film, with 917s to the fore of course.

The current top of the tree in Porsche road cars was also proudly on display, the very first UK customer Carrera GT, almost ready to be handed over to its lucky new owner (this week).

The current road car incarnation of the 911 RS was there too, together with a host of other 911s from the 1990s, 80s, 70s and 60s. An exceedingly rare Porsche 959 was also on display.

Of the still controversial Cayenne there was no sign in the enormous showroom but the evidence outside, with a pre-delivery area packed with the ‘SUV on Steroids’, was that either there are an awful lot of expectant owners awaiting an imminent delivery or that there are deals to be had. Let’s hope for the health of one of the most important sportscar makers in the world that it’s the former, and that a sales success will bring Porsche back with a challenge at the very top of world sportscar racing soon.