Meet the 2003 Daytona-winning Porsche’s owner, Joerg Bergmeister.
Porsche is honoring the legendary 996-generation 911 GT3 RS that clinched victory at the 2003 24 Hours of Daytona by creating a unique version using the most recent 992 GT3 RS generation.
On February 2, 2003, at the Daytona International Speedway, The Racer Group with team owner Kevin Buckler raced a Porsche 911 and claimed victory, surpassing both GT and prototype cars that were making their first appearance of the season. Following closely behind were Risi Competizione in a Ferrari 360 Modena GT and Rennwerks Motorsports in a Porsche 911 GT3-R.
Behind the steering wheel were three skilled drivers: Joerg Bergmeister, Michael Schrom, and Timo Bernhard.
Although Bergmeister is the proprietor of this specially crafted 911, it was Schrom who sparked the inspiration to construct a homage vehicle following the premiere of the sleek 2022 aerodynamic 911 GT3 RS.Bergmeister may be the proud owner of this modified 911, but it was Schrom who planted the seed for building a tribute car after witnessing the unveiling of the streamlined 2022 911 GT3 RS.
The company’s Sonderwunsch program, known for crafting custom Porsches such as the 718 Cayman GT4 RS inspired by the Carrera Panamericana race, has delivered a stunning result with the newly painted Riviera Blue 911. The design pays homage to the iconic Daytona-winning car, while also incorporating Racing Yellow accents on details like the side mirrors and swan-neck wing’s side plates. Bergmeister chose not to go for the bare carbon Weissach Package, instead opting to maintain the blue exterior.
Within the cabin, you will find sleek black leather upholstery accented by GT Silver stitching for a touch of contrast. The dashboard is covered in Race-Tex material and the door sills are adorned with carbon fiber panels featuring intricate engravings meant to resemble the iconic Rolex watches given to the victors of the 24 Hours of Daytona. As a respectful nod to its forerunner, this vehicle has been equipped with the Club Sports package, which adds a road-legal fire extinguisher weighing just 2.2 pounds.
The main focus of the Sonderwunsch program is on design, therefore the 4.0-liter naturally-aspirated flat-six will remain unchanged, delivering a familiar output of 518 horsepower and 342 lb-ft of torque from the original manufacturer.
In Zuffenhausen, Porsche recently unveiled the customized GT3 RS for Bergmeister, coinciding with his 48th birthday. As the car undergoes a complete paint protection process, the German driver has no intention of using it for daily driving, as he considers it to be “a little too precious” to him.
Bergmeister expressed his pride in the accomplishments made at Daytona in the past, stating, “I’m still proud of what we achieved back then at Daytona, and this car has brought back those memories already.” Despite not being an emotional person, he admitted to getting goosebumps upon first seeing the car. He also expressed his gratitude that the project is finally completed and shared his excitement for how it has turned out.
