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AutoArt 1:18 2007 Porsche RS Spyder

Reviewed by: Bill Bennett

After abandoning their LeMans Prototype program in 1999, Porsche re-entered endurance racing at the end of the 2005 season at the LeMans Prototype-2 (LMP2) level with their RS Spyder and subsequent RS Spyder Evo and proved to everyone that they had created a design that could compete at the highest level of international endurance racing (and kick some major butt in the process).

In creating the RS Spyder , Porsche worked with Team Penske to develop a car that could be economically (relatively) raced by privateers and still be a winner in its class and that had the potential to win the races overall.

The car is named Spyder after the legendary 550 Spyder of the mid 1950’s and the RS stands for “Renn Sport” or Racing Sport in English. The car features a carbon-fiber monocoque chassis with double-wishbone suspension fore and aft and with the engine and transmission acting as the rear stressed member of the chassis. The chassis was designed with a wide range of adjustments so as to allow it to be easily adapted to the peculiarities of the different circuits where it would compete. The car weighs 1709 lbs. dry.

The engine is a 3.4 liter 90-degree naturally-aspirated V-8 with a 44mm (1 ¾”) air volume restrictor and developed 480 hp in 2006 and now 503 hp in 2007 Evo trim. The engine is attached to a six-speed dog-shift sequential gearbox with paddle shifter.

The car has been very successful in its first two full seasons of racing (2006 & 2007), winning Team Penske the team championship both years. In 2006 it won Mid-Ohio overall and then came back in 2007 and won 8 of the 12 2008 races overall defeating the mighty Audi R10 Diesel.

Dyson Racing purchased two Evo cars to use during the 2007 season and finished in second place in team standings in LMP-2 behind Team Penske.

AutoArt, through Porsche Dealers, is selling the 2007 RS Spyder Evo as it would be tested pre-season before paint and livery were applied. These are also available, by special arrangement, from Legacy Motors (877) 534-2733.

The AutoArt car is finished in a rich matte black with the distinctive finish on the diecast body that resembles carbon fiber. The rear engine cover is removable, allowing full inspection of the engine, transmission, mufflers and suspension. AutoArt has done a nice job of bringing us all of the plumbing, wires and cables that make the real car work. When you pick the car up, it feels very much like a model would if it was constructed of carbon-fiber…. no doubt due to AutoArt’s development of advanced thin-wall casting techniques.

Steering is fully functional and the driver’s cockpit is complete with 5-point racing harnesses, LCD instrument display and yoke-like steering wheel….all done beautifully.

The rear engine cover is shipped in its own space in the foam cocoon and tightly clips into place. The tires have the look of already having many testing miles on them, a nice feature many manufacturers are not offering. The car also has all of the updated aero of the Evo with the 2007 splitters, wing and rear diffusers.

I really like this car and it’s fun to have it in its natural state. I’m sure AutoArt will be using this mold to also bring us the Penske and Dyson liveried cars sometime in the future.

If you’re a fan of giant-killers, this is the one for you. Penske and Porsche are going back to their roots proving that horsepower isn’t the only thing that wins races!

(03/02/2008)