The best Porsche show on earth
Rennsport Reunion returned to Laguna Seca for a weekend of thrilling Porsche utopia
Held since 2001 on either the East or West Coast of the US, Rennsport Reunion has long captivated the imaginations of enthusiasts who flock to the event from all over the globe. Originally created by Brian Redman and Porsche Cars North America to celebrate Porsche’s racing heritage, the sixth edition attracted some 81,000 people to the famous Laguna Seca racetrack in September, where guests were treated to fast laps from some 2,500 cars from throughout Porsche’s 70 years of existence.
Memorable moments included Dr Wolfgang Porsche taking to the track in the first 356 registered for the road in 1948, before memorable races with a host of legendary machinery including 904s,
917s, 962s, RSRS, GT3 Rs and Cup cars which were organised into six classes racing hard over the entire four-day weekend. A dedicated tractor race also made for one of the more amusing on-track spectacles, and the 919 Evo made an appearance as it tried to beat the overall lap record.
Though the racing was a highlight in itself, Rennsport Reunion had plenty to offer the Porsche connoisseur elsewhere. Direct support from Porsche AG meant the event gave a world premier to the manufacturer’s new ‘935’ Clubsport race car and a US debut to the 991 Speedster concept. The Chopard Heritage display presented some of the finest race cars ever to have Stuttgart’s prancing horse on its nose, while all manner of memorabilia could be had from a plethora of reputable vendors.
Fans also had ample opportunity to meet their racing heroes, with onstage interviews and autograph sessions on each of the four days of this glorious Californian extravaganza. Former racing greats such as Derek Bell then joined current works drivers including Patrick Long and Jorg Bergmeister in race cars out on the circuit throughout the weekend too, bringing the cars and the stars together for a truly unforgettable weekend of complete immersion in Porsche. Nothing will beat it until Rennsport Reunion VII, set to be held in 2021 or 2022.