Porsche 991 GT3 RS: 991.1 vs 991.2, Weissach and Paint to Sample

Buyers looking for a specific GT3 RS (a particular colour, or one with the Weissach package) are usually weighing two generations: the 991.1 and the 991.2. They share a PDK-only drivetrain and a 4.0-litre naturally aspirated flat-six, but they are not the same car.

In this guide

Headline differences

Sources: Porsche press releases for the 991.1 (3 March 2015) and 991.2 (6 March 2018), Wikipedia for torque, weights and lap times, and GTspirit for the 8,800 rpm limit.¹²³⁴

Porsche's 2015 release says the 991.1 RS has the largest and most powerful naturally aspirated direct-injection engine in the 911 family, a body derived from the 911 Turbo, a magnesium roof (a first) and carbon bonnet and boot lid, and weighs roughly 10 kg less than the GT3. Rear-axle steering and Torque Vectoring Plus with a fully variable rear differential lock are fitted, and the full bucket seats are based on the 918 Spyder's carbon shells.¹

The 2018 release says the 991.2 produces 20 PS more than both its predecessor and the 911 GT3, revs to 9,000 rpm, has a recalibrated rear-axle steering system, ball joints on all suspension arms, 20-inch front wheels with 265/35 tyres and 21-inch rear wheels with 325/30 tyres, and a reduced-insulation interior with lightweight door panels and a new lightweight rear cover.² Stuttcars describes the 991.2's engine changes as upgraded pistons and rings, a solid valvetrain with shims, a stiffer crankshaft, thicker connecting-rod bearings and plasma-coated cylinder liners.⁵

Clubsport package

On the 991.1, Porsche's release lists the Clubsport package as standard equipment: a bolted roll cage behind the front seats, preparation for a battery master switch, a six-point harness for the driver and a fire extinguisher with bracket.¹ For the 991.2, Porsche describes the same package as a no-cost option.² Market rules differ, so confirm from the car and its documents whether the cage and harness are present rather than assuming from the model name.

What is the Weissach package?

The Weissach package debuted on the 991.2 GT3 RS; it was not offered on the 991.1. Porsche describes it as additional carbon components in the chassis, interior and exterior, with optional magnesium wheels, taking the car to 1,430 kg in its lightest form.² Reporting on the contents agrees on these items: a carbon roof in place of the standard magnesium one, carbon anti-roll bars and coupling rods, carbon steering-wheel trim and shift paddles, and Weissach logos in the interior; forged magnesium wheels are a further option.⁶⁵ AutoGuide's report also mentions a titanium bolt-in roll cage, and the sources differ on exactly which exterior panels are carbon.⁷ The reported saving is modest (roughly 13 lb for the carbon parts and around 25 lb for the magnesium wheels), so treat it as a specification and appearance choice, not a transformation. Confirm exactly what a given car has from its build sheet and by inspecting it, not from a listing title.

Paint to Sample and special colours

Paint to Sample (PTS) is Porsche's factory programme of extra colours beyond the standard palette. A 2021 press report cited more than 160 colours across the range, with a separate, slower Paint to Sample Plus tier that requires a feasibility study.⁸ A colour name in a listing, such as "Miami Blue", does not by itself tell you whether the car is a standard colour or PTS.

Verification points:

• The Certificate of Authenticity (or Porsche Production Specifications in the US) lists original paint and options, so use it to verify.⁹¹⁰
• Owners on Rennlist report that the standard dealer build sheet shows PTS only as an "Exterior Paint to Sample" option line and often does not show the colour name or code, and that dealers can run a different report that does. Treat that as owner experience; ask a Porsche Centre to confirm the paint code for the VIN.¹¹
• Check the car itself against the documents: a paint-depth gauge and a look at door shuts and under the bonnet will show whether the colour is original or a respray.

Engine history, warranty and recalls

The 991.1 GT3 (not the RS) had a 2014 engine recall, after which Porsche replaced engines on the affected cars. NHTSA's record describes a campaign (14V090000) for 2014 GT3s built between October 2013 and January 2014 in which a connecting rod could loosen and damage the crankcase; the remedy was a new engine.¹² Wikipedia says 785 cars received replacement engines and that Porsche later extended engine coverage for finger-follower wear on the 991.1 GT3.³ CarBuzz reports that this 10-year or 120,000-mile transferable warranty covers the 991.1 GT3 only; the 991.1 GT3 RS and 911 R were excluded because they use different finger followers.¹³ A forum thread agrees and adds that the RS has a lower rev limit, though that is owner opinion.¹⁴ If you are shopping the 991.1 family, make sure a GT3 is not being described as covered when it is an RS.

NHTSA also lists recalls that touch the RS: a passenger frontal airbag inflator campaign (17V134000) that includes 2016 GT3 RS and 911 R cars, and a child-restraint instruction campaign (19V875000) covering 2016 and 2019 GT3 RS cars among others.¹² Recalls are VIN-specific, so check the car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a Porsche Centre.

What to check on either car

• Full service history and, for a track-used car, records of fluid, brake and tyre changes. Both are track-capable cars, and brakes, wheels and suspension are safety-critical work for a qualified professional.
• Evidence of accident repair: these cars have large carbon and magnesium panels that are expensive to repair, and repaired examples can be hard to spot without a paint gauge and a specialist.
• Porsche Classic's Technical Certificate is offered for models out of production for at least ten years, and the 991 is not among the models Porsche lists, so rely on a Porsche Centre or independent GT specialist for the pre-purchase inspection.¹⁵

Choosing between them

• Choose the 991.2 if you want the higher-revving, more powerful engine, the more recent chassis tuning and the option of the Weissach package.
• Choose the 991.1 if you prefer the earlier generation's character and a car that does not carry the Weissach option; check the Clubsport hardware and the engine history carefully.
• Either way, drive both back to back if you can; a current test drive is more informative than a spec sheet. Check live listings for availability.

Shortlisting a PTS 991.1 or Miami Blue Weissach 991.2

Write down the generation, factory colour, package and wheel requirement as separate fields. "PTS", "Weissach" and "magnesium wheels" should each be supported by documents rather than inferred from a photograph. A colour preference should also specify whether a factory finish is essential or whether a documented repaint is acceptable.

For a 991.1, use "991.1 GT3 RS PTS" and the desired colour name as separate searches. For a later car, try "991.2 GT3 RS Miami Blue Weissach" alongside the same search without the wheel requirement. This catches listings where a seller omitted an option from the title. Confirm the generation from the VIN and factory record rather than the registration date alone.

What should the photo and document set include?

Request the complete option list, colour confirmation, roof, anti-roll-bar and interior details where accessible, wheel markings, front splitter, underside and brake condition. Ask which wheels are currently fitted and whether the original set accompanies the car. A Weissach badge or carbon-look trim cannot establish the complete package.

Treat track records as useful evidence rather than an automatic rejection. Ask for servicing around events, alignment history, brake and tyre replacements and any repaired bodywork. An inspection by a GT specialist should distinguish documented wear-item replacement from unexplained structural damage or incomplete restoration.

Sources and further reading

1. Porsche 911 GT3 RS: Der Rennwagen für Rundstrecke und Alltag, Porsche press information 13/15, 3 March 2015: manufacturer press release (German).
2. Ganz nah am Rennsport: der neue Porsche 911 GT3 RS, Porsche Newsroom, 6 March 2018: manufacturer press release (German).
3. Porsche 911 GT3, Wikipedia: torque, weights, lap times, 991.1 GT3 engine recall and warranty.
4. Geneva 2015: Porsche 911 GT3 RS, GTspirit: 991.1 specifications as reported at launch.
5. Porsche 911 GT3 RS (991.2), Stuttcars: a Porsche news and guide site.
6. Introducing the GT3 RS with Weissach Package, Flatsixes
7. Porsche 911 GT3 RS Goes Carbon Crazy With Weissach Package, AutoGuide
8. Porsche's Exclusive Paint to Sample program now offers more than 160 colors, The Drive
9. What is a Porsche Certificate of Authenticity?, Flatsixes: contents of the certificate; its ordering instructions are dated.
10. Vehicle information, Porsche USA
11. Reference Guide to PTS, Rennlist forum: owner discussion; not an official statement.
12. NHTSA recalls lookup and its recall API for Porsche 911 GT3 and GT3 RS, model years 2014-2019.
13. Porsche Extends Warranty For 991.1 911 GT3 To 10 Years And 120,000 Miles, CarBuzz
14. Concerns over buying a 991.1 GT3RS, Rennlist forum: owner opinion.
15. Porsche Classic Technical Certificate, Porsche USA