How the sound of the 991.2 RSR has changed over the years: 2017-22 Porsche GTE-class car tribute!

2023 will be the last year for the GTE class as it will be replaced with GT3 cars in 2024, with the GTE Pro class that already saw its final race in 2022 and with the GTE Am which will see it at the end of this season. Since the 991.2 RSR has been my favorite car of these rule set, I wanted to put together this video showing how its sound has changed over the last 6 years (and also how the car has evolved).
The 2017 version of the Porsche 911 (991.2) RSR was unveiled in November 2016 as the replacement for the 2013-2016 Porsche 911 (991) RSR. The car immediately caused a stir because of its 'reversed' engine-gearbox unit, modifying the typical rear-engine layout of the 911 model into a mid-engined car. This allowed to improve weight distribution and to design a bigger rear diffuser (permitted in the new GTE rules) since there was much more 'free' space at the lower, rear part of the car. The engine was a 4.0-liter naturally aspirated flat-6 with direct injection.
For the first half of 2017 the car had two separated exhaust pipes, on the very left and right of the rear diffuser. This layout gave the car a dark and old-school sound, very reminiscent of the naturally aspirated 993 RSR 3.8 or even the 996 RSR. I managed to record the car in this configuration during the 2017 WEC Prologue in Monza and later in 2018 when Porsche was again in Monza for a private test and during which they tried a few exhaust setups.
The 991.2 RSR became the moving orchestra that we have all come to love at the 2017 Le Mans 24-Hours Test Day early in June. The two Porsche GT Team's RSRs were fitted with a new exhaust which made the two pipes converge in the centre, like it was on the previous-gen 991 RSR (or on the various 911 GT3s). This gave back the higher pitch sound but it also provided an incredible amount of decibels, due to the total lack of mufflers. The official cars remained like that until the end of the 2018-19 WEC Super Season which ended in June 2019 with the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In 2018 customers also received the new 991.2 RSR so the amount of noise on track increased a lot!
In late 2018 spy shots of an upgraded RSR were seen, taken at Weissach's test track with initial rumors saying that the car would be turbocharged, with a new exhaust system placed on each sides of the car, just in front of the rear wheels. In May 2019 I was lucky enough to record this new car testing at Monza Circuit. It was called 'RSR-19' and it made its racing debut at the 2019 4 Hours of Silverstone, first round of the 2019-20 WEC Super Season. The car was unveiled at the 2019 Goodwood Festival of Speed in July.
The RSR-19 featured a fully revised body kit, from a new front bumper and hood, new mirrors, wing profile, to the new side exhaust system which allowed to design a new and bigger rear diffuser. The new GTE-class racer turned out not to be turbocharged but Porsche introduced also an upgraded 4.2-liter flat-6 engine. With that exhaust configuration the car went back to a more old-school tone but not as melodic as the 'early 2017' RSR. I've always compared it to how the Ford GT LM GTE might have sounded if it didn't have the two turbos. Loudness was still there. And probably I lost some of my hearing during that test in Monza.
Customers and private teams were still using the screaming, previous-gen 911 GTE car for the 2019/2020 season but it was obvious that sooner or later Porsche would have provided them with the new spec RSRs. Back in August 2020 I recorded two RSR-19s which had a revised rear exiting arrangement, similar to the one of the infamous RSR 2017. Since the RSR-19 with side exhaust was even louder than the 2017 RSR by a couple of dB, Porsche developed this new rear exhaust featuring little mufflers to reduce and comply with the increasingly stringent noise limits imposed in more and more circuits around the World.
With this specs the RSR-19 started to be sold to private teams from 2021, allowing them to join test days at more race tracks in which noise rules are stricter. Thanks to being back to a rear-central layout, the cars have regained the high-pitched sound but sound level is quite far from the 2017-spec cars. In fact with this muffled exhaust, Porsche stated the RSR should be around 10 dB quieter than before. And you can really hear the difference even on a video.
0:00 2017 vs 2018-19 vs RSR-19 vs RSR-19 '2021'
6:49 RSR 2018 vs RSR-19 '2021' in Goodwood
8:36 Miscellaneous
#Porsche911RSR #911RSR19 #Porsche991RSRGTE
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Camcorder: Canon Legria GX10 & HF G40 + Canon DM-100 Microphone
Events: Porsche Testing 2018-2021 / WEC Prologue 2017
Where: Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Italy
THANKS FOR WATCHING AND SUBSCRIBE!!!

[@ChanceLaChapelle]

2017-2019 might be the best sounding racecar of all time

[@anttij2973]

Not this one? kzbin.info/www/bejne/nIuwgXd5g96Erqc

[@ChanceLaChapelle]

@@anttij2973 oh my… I have to be honest that thing sounds like a monster. Extremely raw and aggressive!

[@CTcuber4K]

Mazda 787b close second

[@ventisette.]

Top 10 for sure, but she’s no 412 T1.

[@anttij2973]

@@ChanceLaChapelle Yep, it sounds pretty good for a 1.5 litre, ancient engine.

[@sultan30arl]

I was at Le Mans in 2018 and those things through the night were awesome to hear

[@Ivvvnnn]

I was at Le Mans 2018 too and those RSR's sounds were so loud they pressed my brain through my skull😅

[@sultan30arl]

@@Ivvvnnn brilliant stuff the Corvette's were nice aswell

[@Ivvvnnn]

@@sultan30arl and gorgeous old Aston Martin V8 too! I also liked Ford's V6.

[@underrated-simracer]

2018 sound still in my heart❤️

[@dede_TNI]

991 RSR 2018 one of the best sounding racecar of all time, bless my ears. 🔥

[@jordanstatler4661]

I hereby nominate this footage to go in a time capsule and be the official footage for future generations to see how incredible internal combustion engines were once everything is hybrid or electric in the future.

[@bombcz1]

2021 sound so mature,but the 17-19 is god damn raw sound,its scary

[@augustortiz]

I always add the RSR videos to my music playlist.

[@alexhndr]

The absolute dB king that is the 2018 911 RSR Never Forget *the SYMPHONY*

[@Evil92Voices]

2017 - 2019 is breathtaking. Not that sick like the 787b, but one of the greatest sounds that ever touched this planet

[@Tigerbear62]

Easily my favourite race car ever made. The 2017-19 sound I think might be the best sound of a race car ever

[@careycummings9999]

I was fortunate enough to see the 2017 and 2018 cares at Lime Rock and Watkins Glen. One of the best sounding GT cars ever. They were also louder than even the mighty Corvette, with its V8. Amazing machines. Excellent presentations as always Bozzy!

[@urielsalva9]

imsa as great with the screaming porsche's and the roaring corvette's

[@maximecouhailler]

I remember hearing it from my house at the 24h of Le Mans in 2017 (I live in Le Mans), at the beginning I thought that the 458 GTE was still there, but when I went to the track, I just saw these beasts and realized this amazing sound was from them

[@tescopiwo]

13:35 this is art

[@pakalu1481]

Hey dude, I've been watching your videos for a long time. Just wanted to say thank you for the top notch car content.

[@FarmYardGaming]

History will remember this as being among the best-sounding racecars to ever exist, period

[@the_razr]

nah we still have F1 V10s and V12s ;-)

[@FarmYardGaming]

I said among, that doesn't rule it out.

[@kayzenl7911]

@@the_razr f1 aren’t in

[@mitchell-wallisforce7859]

Early 2017 & early RSR-19 are HUGELY underrated. Deep, bassy, and more akin to the 996 RSR. That's a sound with some meat on its bones. The manic screaming was and remains hilarious, but the baritone notes have _flavor._

[@oscarzt1652]

i agree with you on the early 17 but the early 19 side pipes dont do it for me however i do think it sounds almost like the 2017 ford GT GTE

[@floppa933]

The early RSR-19 was also extremely loud in person. As loud as the 2018 screamer. Completely drowned out the cars next to it.

[@tescoshortage]

The early 2017 RSRs sound almost like they have unequal length headers on their engines.

[@krohgan5028]

Man for me all the version are awesome the sound of the 2017-2019 are just incredible and so does early 2017 and rsr-19 they all are unique and his just so incredible to listen

[@amirulaiman2296]

but you can't deny it sounds sluggish compare to mid 2017-2019

[@Dethmeister]

Mid 2017 - 2019 sounds the best.

[@hufinho8240]

Completely in love with all of these cars. What a shame to see the RSR go after this year in WEC. Huge thank you for you videos!

[@joe718gt4]

I went to Le Mans in 2017 and 2022... I wanted to see the last running of GTE Pro but man they are so much quieter

[@johnnytopgun6414]

The face at 7:20 says it all

[@Dethmeister]

Hah, I noticed that too.

[@PRZ12]

Best engine sound ever

[@RallyPino]

Thank u for this video bozzy I enjoyed it as always I really started to miss this car this week feels good to see you upload this video the Porsche really evolved over the years in terms of sound and body sadly enough it the last year of this car I will really miss it when The GT3S take over next year

[@tt350zJason]

Thanks for putting these all in one. The best symphony ever created.

[@dohran]

I could watch this for hours

[@shauno1970]

What a privilege it must have been to drive these cars. Surely the pinnacle of motor racing.

[@Xavi_FD3S]

I love this car. In all its variants. Thank you Bozzy for this beautiful tribute.

[@mpsimonful]

encore une excellente vidéo...merci Bozzy !👌👌👌👌

[@96gts]

So glad they ended up having issues with the exhaust at the beginning of the run and had to take the mufflers off. The mid 2017 spec is the best sounding modern race car.

[@doc4165]

I feel blessed to hear the 2018/19 in person. What a treat…

[@simracingchannel9891]

nice footage

[@mysterbruno2593]

Wat an amazing video again. And such a car too. That's also THE car for me.

[@HonestDiecast]

Think Pink Pig and Rothmans #1 and #2 podium finishes for GTE Pro at LeMans in 2018, the 2017 - 2019 RSR is the way that car was meant to sound and how I will always remember that car. That version has cemented itself as arguably the most unique and badass sounding race car ever produced of all time. 2021 was a close second, same tone but a bit quieter and slightly more tamed. The "buzzing bee's" of 2017 and CERTAINLY 2019 - 2020 will definitely not be missed by me at least. I get what they were trying to do (replicate the sound of the 996 RSR and older), but the "screaming banshee" is what won the hearts of Porsche fans worldwide including myself.

[@bolkoschuseil7484]

Another one of your great footages combined with detailed technicall information! I love it! Only way to top this footage would be a binaural recording!

[@robertdevald]

This is car enthusiast ASMR right here, God damn!

[@TheDowntownLights]

Unpopular opinion but I actually love the 2020 side pipes sound maybe just as much as the others, extremely different sounds but both amazing imo

[@Buick_GSX]

It reminds me slightly of how brutal the Ford GTs were

[@barkyonyx962]

the best grid isnt a grid full of na screamers nor buzzing turbos it's when all those flavors of sound come together

[@zaockle]

Yeah I personally thought the angry bumble bees were cool. The race I went to you could literally feel the exhaust noise in your chest.

[@make4all2000]

I watched this video with headphones and I got goosebumps, but to be there to smell that rubber, I'm envious:))

[@ollesandberg1143]

Maniacal!❤

[@mavericvinaleclirycF35V]

2020 Side Exhaust Specs my favourite

[@tukomo4761]

7:19 the man turning around got me haha

[@checcorodri]

I love it this sound 😍😍😍

[@nastystew6942]

Awesome

[@lucasfillman5965]

THE Soundmachine! I really miss the 997 RSR Sound .

[@enriclibert545]

All sound goood, but for me 19 specs. More raspy and classic👍🏻🤟🏻🤟🏻🤟🏻👌🏻. Good video👌🏻

[@ziggyfreud5357]

Totally agree dude. It’s meditative therapy 👍

[@emonislam7433]

Nice 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@oscarzt1652]

early 2017 is my favourite i think

[@revelare_xvii6269]

The 2018-19 version was easily the best sounding car on the grid.

[@brakinglate8828]

The best part is it looks the tamest of all the GT cars yet is sounds a million times better than any other. Thats my go to car in ACC, and I'm a ferrari fan.

[@ziggyfreud5357]

Respect man from a Porsche fanboy 👍

[@rod272727]

the 2019-2020 was short shifting it seems....not in the higher rpm band. The RSR is my favorite car to drive on iracing.

[@rossnolan2883]

Wicked 😊😊😊😊

[@intellect4840]

I fucking love cars

[@ziggyfreud5357]

They just keep on giving 👍🇦🇺

[@RACECAR]

Might just be me here, but I've always been more partial to the sound of the original 911 RSR-17 configuration and Original RSR-19. Sure they don't scream, but frankly they didn't need to. Much like the 996 GT3 RSR from the early 2000s (as well as the Porsche 911 GT1 and the 934 Turbo RSR, two of my favorite Racing Porsches), they have that signature Deep baritone sound that was how I identified a 911 at Le Mans or at Sebring on sound alone. To my ears, that deep bassy tone is what defines Porsche flat-6 in motorsports the best.

[@marcb.2648]

6:20 -6:50 awesome

[@AXIvan000]

loud bois 😎

[@Twobarpsi]

Always Bozzy 🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹🏁🏁🏁!!

[@lachlanbird6095]

imagine they release this body on production cars

[@user-ii3cp7ot3s]

when will this car be listed for sale to the public?

[@katzicael]

Personally I prefer the earlier spec and the latest spec sounds lol, I wanna hear that flat6 Scream and Wail.

[@AntoniusTyas]

Porsche is just operating on a different manner. It's as if they listened to the fanbase. Not to say the original 2017-spec RSR and early RSR-19 doesn't sound great. Those bassy growl has a little bit of old-school air-cooled menace to it. But mid-2017-2019 RSRs are Godsend.

[@RacingWithChuck27]

IMSA and WEC let Porsche RSR have more gear options after the Ford GT and Ferrari? Iracing has its RSR and you can change the gear(s), a plethora full. RF2 and other sims the RSR you can’t change?

[@tanthaman]

ICE 4 LIFE

[@ziggyfreud5357]

Pure 👍

[@RafaHuel]

BAAAAAH BAAAAAAH :D

[@fredericgauthier6738]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@mathewhudson7649]

Love them all but the 2017-2019 edges it for me.

[@timmybrown250]

Porsche is my favorite manufacturer If you could have any supercar and I mean supercar only, what would it be

[@fitech2454]

In 2023 we had the same sound as the 2017-19 ones, i guess they took off some filters

[@bits2646]

Vote for mid 17-19 for best sound

[@Yosh1az]

We probably will never see the 992 RSR due to the FIA removing the GTE class WEC in favor of the GT3 Premium regs in 2024 and beyond.

[@MrSpeedSix]

Being there live at Le Mans I only can tell, taht your ears will literally bleed after a full 24 hour audience. Only the Panoz cars and the Mazda 787B comr close.

[@sirlloyd6386]

The RSR is a great sounding car for sure, but nothing beats the sound of the late Goerg Plasa’s BMW 314 Judd….sounds like a McLaren Formula One Car from 2000. Another single exhaust screamer.

[@sirlloyd6386]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/marUe6uOpNGcmdE

[@philipplutki]

6:49 the virgin RSR 2019 vs the chad RSR 2018

[@Ivvvnnn]

I heard that 2019 sound is actually louder than 2018 but videos couldn't playback that loudness.

[@philipplutki]

@@Ivvvnnn the side exhaust one is noisier because of all the bass it has, the RSR19 with the central exhaust is actually quite a lot more silent than the 2018 one and its missing a lot of the rawness as well

[@houseking9211]

2019-2020 sounds pretty bad on throttle, but off throttle downshifts aren't bad actually, obivously the 2017-2019 rsr is the best sounding 6 cylinder engine of all time

[@fluo9576]

"Bad"... I heard them and trust me its still an amazing sound

[@ziggyfreud5357]

Correct

[@yannickpleiss3218]

Would rather take one mid 17-19 spec than 5 21 specs

[@ziggyfreud5357]

Yep. 2018 has the prize 🎉

[@Kingdonnerkebab]

Downshifts so muted on the later cars 😭

[@pmbunmahafajarastanaprima5009]

Because side exhaust setup vs rear exhaust setup. Side exhaust dissipates sound energy in separate way (split left & right). Rear exhaust dissipates in just one direction (behind the car only)

[@Kingdonnerkebab]

@@pmbunmahafajarastanaprima5009 ahhh you learn something everyday, thanks for that. 👍

[@slapshot121212]

‘17-‘19 sounds the best by far, ‘19-‘20 the worst, ‘21 gets back to a great sound

[@th3orist]

why are they not making a 992 GT3 RSR?

[@shadow77420]

no GTE class anymore🥲

[@HonestDiecast]

Porsche is also focusing on the hyper car class. The 992 GT3R has taken a lot of technology from the 991 RSR, we just need to wait till we get an unsilenced "look" at it to see how it sounds. 😄👍

[@Ant_F1]

6:17

[@gabrielarellano4696]

The best sound remains with the side exhaust like a hornet buzz.

[@aarala]

The 17-19 sounds a bit like an electric guitar with distortion making rock music. It has a character the others just can't match.

[@andreafinco2056]

Beautiful sound, but there are more car that sound better

[@khalifamafiozz97]

One fully aspired and the another one is turbocharged, right ?

[@HonestDiecast]

All are N/A 4.2L flat-six's. 👊😁👍

[@MRFUCKOFF202]

If I was Bill Gates I'd stop funding vaccines and spend all my money buying, preserving and running those 17-19 variants as a service to motorsport fans. I think that is the best sounding car I will ever see in person.

[@riclee371]

991.2 is probably the best one out of the 4

[@speedbeer2507]

They are all 991.2

[@riclee371]

@@speedbeer2507 whoops I wanted to say the 2018 rsr

[@chunder27]

the 19 car was even more deafening than the open pipes one, sounded exactly like the Ford GT

[@Ivanoskyao]

For worst. Unfortunately. 😞 They changed the stroke, ilhas more torque, better race car but got to love that high reving 2019.

[@alexg91_ssr5]

0:38 whoever says the LFA sounds better doesn't understand anything

[@bryanbernart439]

I was at Daytona working a corner when it first went on track in NA. Painfully loud.

[@Kaipeternicolas]

The 2017-2019 model was created by god himself. 😍

[@sloggisladd]

Yeah let's get rid of this. Bring the batteries.

[@ziggyfreud5357]

Yep sure. That’s what we’re all waiting for! WTF !!! 😂😂

[@augure2589]

After 2017 it don’t sound like flat 6 anymore.

[@pmbunmahafajarastanaprima5009]

Well, the classic Porsche flat six sound LIKE that (after 2017). I would never deny that 2017-2019 spec is the best racing exhaust orchestra, pure racing sound. But, if you say, after 2017, it don't sound like flat six, sorry I would disagree. Consider listen to classic Porsche flat six engine, or early 2000s 911 GT3 RSR, & you will understand my point.

[@mick4659]

6:18 holy shit. 😎

[@andyparkinson509]

Whoever gets this up to 992 likes wins

[@BenjaminKarslund]

From good to bad like every other modern cars…😅

[@adrenalinjunky1]

That sounds like Sh*t …

[@user-gk3iq3lm7t]

i want to be a racist too

[@gabrielbarcellos1036]

17-19 🤌❤️ pra sempre

[@mz6501]

2017 was the Best. I was WEC Nürburgring . Live is Awesom.