IT HAD BEEN 5 LONG YEARS SINCE THE LAST RENNSPORT REUNION.
The previous gathering for Rennsport Reunion 6 took place in 2018 at Laguna Seca raceway, and as an aspiring Porsche and Historic racing enthusiast, I recall gazing in sheer awe at Instagram posts and Youtube videos of what was seen there. An event where both the cars and the people are top notch, where Porsche unveils new race cars and significant historical drivers and engineers, both of which are the foundation of Porsche's history. For example, in 2018 the new Porsche 935/19 made it's first public debut, the 919 Tribute was present to attack the corkscrew with all 1100 Horsepower, and there were hundreds of other historic Porsche racecars present. So naturally, when it was announced in the beginning of 2023 that there would be a Rennsport gathering at Laguna Seca at the end of September, It immediately scaled to the top of the list of things I needed to experience this year.
DAY 1: RENNSPORT ACCLIMATION Upon arrival to the track, we were met by the Stuttgart cup group going out for their first practice session. This class contained the mid-late 80's prototypes that you would see racing in GTP and Group C, like the 962's. I do love me some group C racers, but a car that was new to me from this group to see running was a Porsche RS Spyder, with its 3.4 Liter V8 that spins up to 11,000+ RPM making ridiculous traction control noises out of every corner and absolutely assailing the eardrums with the side exit exhausts just in front of the rear wheels. Couple that with the constant turbo flutter from all the 962s that were in the same group? It was a phenomenal introduction to the extended weekend up at Laguna Seca.
This was only 20 minutes into my time at Rennsport Reunion, and I already was filled with excitement. Shortly after this, Porsche would spearhead an all out assault on the senses fronted by a pair of 991.2 RSR's with the famous center exit exhausts, and would also be granted the privilege of spectating the pinnacle of Porsche's motorsport developments attack Laguna Seca in the hilariously fast 919 Hybrid, and the current IMSA/WEC competitor, the 963. This was only 2 hours into Rennsport, and I had already seen most of what I wanted to see.
The evening hours of Thursday would prove to be equally as awesome as the earlier half of the day, getting to see a very large field of 1990-2012 911 racecars fly through turn 2, as well as getting a little one-on-one time with a white Ruf RT12 in the Porsche corral parking, and then getting to see the Stuttgart group (962's and such) run practice again was a perfect cap on an excellent first day of track action at Rennsport Reunion.
But that wasn't all there was, seeing the teams wrap up for the day as well as getting to have some up close and personal time with some incredible cars in the paddock after hours was an awesome way to conclude day 1. I can count on one hand the places you can be in which no matter what direction you look, there is a Porsche of historical significance to be seen. The Rennsport paddock is the first on that list, because not only do you get to see them static, but in motion as well.
It was a solid introduction to Rennsport Reunion. I had only begun to grasp how truly epic this long weekend was going to be. Now, bring on day 2.
DAY 2: BETTER LIGHT and NEW PERSPECTIVES
Somewhat similar in schedule to the day before, Friday was the day that Rennsport really started to ramp up, especially in attendance, but for me personally I would face the challenges of shooting Laguna without a fancy media vest. This was a day that I took to try and shoot in new spots, as shooting in the same spot for the whole weekend would have led to many photos looking too similar for my taste. A spot that was new to me was the camping area above turn 10 which overlooks the paddock. Getting panning shots of the Stuttgart group did prove to be a challenge, as the cars often move so fast it can be difficult to get a sharp photo, but I did succeed to a small degree.
And just up the hill from this spot, I got to watch the Werks trophy group attack the curve just after the corkscrew. This was the first time I got to see this group on the track, and while I didn't get a whole lot of photos during this outing, this group would go run plenty more times throughout the Reunion. This group contains racing cars from the mid 60's to the early 70's, from 906's to the ever-so-beautiful 917K.
After this, it was time for some corkscrew shooting, this time with the Stuttgart group which I just couldn't seem to get enough of. Even though my camera battery died halfway through this practice session, I managed to get some solid photos. At the same time, it was fun to put the camera away and just watch these cars fly out of the corkscrew.
This was the nightcap on a solid second day at Rennsport. The next day was... interesting to say the least.
DAY 3: RAINSPORT REUNION
I think many, if not all photographers present during Rennsport Reunion 7 were at least a little excited about getting to document some rainy racing. I know I was, but at the same time when I left for Monterey on Wednesday, I had no clue it was going to rain on Saturday and did not pack accordingly. It was seriously chilly at the track, especially on the outside of turn 1 and 2 where there is no cover from the wind that was blowing from the southwest, and it felt like a solid ~50 degrees the whole time I was there, while only wearing a flannel for warmth. Couple the wind with the occasional heavy misting and by the end of Saturday I was a cold and wet mess. However, the photos were worth it. The day started for me with the famous tractor race, where roughly 20 Porsche tractors congregated to race from the start/finish line up to turn 5, as they lack the power necessary to make it up to turn 6.
After this, I decided Saturday would also be the day I decided to undertake some photography of cars not racing on the track. I found a slew of Porsche road cars that tickled my fancy enormously, from the radical hippie livery 918 Spyder to the Japanese market 993 Carrera RS, it goes to show that the eye candy at Rennsport is not just limited to the track.
Anyways, back to the racecars. For most of the sessions, the track was just damp as it only really rained overnight and in the early morning. This led to some sketchy moments down into turn 2 for the Weissach group, where I watched the Swap Shop Livery Longtail 935 go for a spin, as well as a Brumos livery 911 RSR touch the wall slightly, but I only managed to capture the 935 spinning. Shortly after this, the Werks group was up where I got some of my favorite photos from the entire weekend of cars like the Porsche 917/10 as well as the 917K tackle turn 5, with almost no holding back. Watching the 917/10 with its twin turbo flat 12 make its way from turn 5 to 6 was unreal, hearing those turbo's spin up and watching the car catapult itself up the hill with haste is something that is now burned into my mind. Its no mystery how this car did so well when Can-Am was at its apex.
The only letdown from this entire day was seeing the Stuttgart group run only 3 cars from the roughly ~20 car field. However, I believe I got some of my best photos from the whole weekend in this session, and now I can check the "Shoot a track event in the rain" box off my bucket list.
The cold day, naturally, called for an evening spent editing photos followed by dinner at the Old Fishermans Grotto for some hot clam chowder. This is maybe the third or fourth time I'm bringing up the Grotto in a blog post, so if you read these and you haven't dined there during car week or whenever else, you are missing out. Anyways, bring on the final day.
DAY 4: PADDOCK SHOOTING and PARTING WAYS WITH RENNSPORT
The day I dreaded from the start, the end of Rennsport Reunion 7 was upon me and my group of friends. We were absolutely exhausted so we decided to leave about halfway through the the day, thus giving me some more time to shoot and take in all that I've seen. I would end up dedicating the majority of my shooting time to getting photos in the paddock, trying to capture what goes on in between the races and with the crews working on the cars. It was a unique challenge as I was trying to throw some candid portraiture into the mix as well as some close up details of some of the cars (and then there was Optimus Prime).
The paddock shooting was a real hoot, watching race teams both getting ready for their next session and tearing down for the event ending felt bittersweet for sure, but I enjoyed my time regardless. My final bit of track shooting followed this, and once again, it was the Stuttgart group and the 962's. This time, I posted up on the outside of turn 6 and eventually the inside, for a good bit of some panning images. My swansong for Rennsport 7, these are the last photos I took during the event.
After this, I walked down the road towards turn 2, hopped in the car and we began our long journey home.
CONCLUDING THOUGHTS:
If you like Porsche in any capacity, or you seek to gain knowledge about Porsche's history, Rennsport Reunion is absolutely, and unquestionably, a must-go. In my opinion, it is a Car Week level gathering with some of the most iconic racecars ever made by Porsche and some of the most important names in Porsche history get flown in from quite literally all over the world for what I consider to be Porsche's Super Bowl. From the original designer of the 962 racecars, Norbert Singer, to current drivers of the 963 in IMSA like Nick Tandy and Mathieu Jaminet, and cars like the 991-generation RSRs or even Can-Am monsters like the 917/10's, this event is seriously overwhelming to anyone who is versed in their Porsche history. And even for my less-well-versed-in-Porsche-history friends, they were utterly gobsmacked by what they were seeing. So unless Rennsport leaves the country, you will absolutely find me at the next Reunion. All I hope for is less of a wait until the next one.