Evolution of the Porsche 911 GT2

Porsche 964 911 Turbo S

Though not a GT2 by name, the 964 Turbo S born of the early-‘90s was a GT2 by nature.

With a 280kW/490Nm turbocharged 3.3-litre flat six pulling a 1290kg car, the Turbo S could launch to 100km/h in 4.7 seconds, and then onto a blistering (at the time, but it’s even quick now) 290km/h.

It’s also an incredibly rare beast, only 86 were ever made. Because of this, the can easily fetch the equivalent of $1.5m.

It’s in this list because it was as ground-breaking (some might argue more so) in terms of potential as the GT2s it preceded.

Porsche 993 911 GT2

The original air-cooled GT2 was a homologation special to meet international racing requirements. Just 57 (seven in right hook) were built.

One of these rarities sold for £1,848,000 (or $3,133,000 AUD) at an RM Sotheby’s auction last year, but that one only had 12,730km on the clock after two decades.

Porsche 996 911 GT2

Developed as a road car, the water-cooled 3.6-litre flat six peaked at 355kW and dipped below 4.0sec to 100km/h.

In a Top Gear review at the time, well known British motoring journo Tiff Needell called the 996 “the best looking 911 to date”, though not everyone was a fan of the visual update.

Porsche 997 911 GT2

Adding variable geometry turbos upped the kilowatt count to 390, it topped 200mp/h and lapped the Nurburgring in 7min 32sec.

With a more modern design (which somewhat closely resembles the current gen 911), the 997’s slower GT3 brother was MOTOR’S Performance Car of the Year in 2007.

That alone should tell you what you need to know about the GT2.

Porsche 997.2 911 GT2 RS

The 997.2 GT2 RS restored the model’s widowmaker reputation.

With 456kW/700Nm it was the most powerful 911 ever built and the combination of turbo lag and two-wheel drive meant it could be hard work even for experienced hands.

The extra power and 70kg diet meant it could hit 100km/h in just 3.5sec on its way to a 330km/h top speed.

Best Interior of 2016: Porsche Cayman

During development its code name was 727, a reference to the Nissan GT-R’s then-benchmark 7min27sec Nurburgring lap time, a mark the GT2 RS shaved nine seconds off.

Just 500 were built and price tags now approach A$1million.

Porsche 991.2 911 GT2 RS

With 515kW/750Nm (a total 59kW/50Nm over its predecessor), the current RS is claimed to be able to pull its 1470kg mass to 100 km/h in 2.8 seconds.

Revealed at the 2017 E3 gaming expo, the car is breaking ground in more than just its power output.