why is the 997 gt2 rs called the widowmaker?

Question

Accepted Answer

The **997 GT2 RS** carries the "widowmaker" nickname from Porsche's long lineage of untamed, high-performance Turbos! It dates back to the original **930 Turbo** from the 1970s-80s—but the 997 GT2 RS definitely earns it.

Here's what makes it so special (and so serious):

🔴 **Rear-wheel drive only** – Unlike the regular 911 Turbo (997 Turbo), which has all-wheel-drive to keep things planted, the GT2 RS sends all **620 horsepower** straight to the rear wheels. That means zero forgiveness if you get greedy with the throttle mid-corner!

🔴 **Lightweight and focused** – Porsche stripped out luxuries to save weight, making it more of a razor-sharp track weapon than a grand tourer. Less weight over the rear axle + big turbo power = a tail-happy handful.

🔴 **Minimal electronic aids** – This was the last of the truly raw 911s. You had to *earn* every corner, and the car wouldn't save you from yourself.

The "widowmaker" name is dark humor implying the car could... well, leave your spouse in that situation if you weren't respectful of its limits! ⚰️

It's absolutely an incredible machine in the right hands—just ask anyone who's tracked one—but definitely demands skill and discipline.

Check out the market for more of these legendary cars: https://classic.com/m/porsche/911/997/9972/gt2-rs/

Is there anything else you'd like to know about this GT2 RS, or are you looking at other high-performance Porsches?

Lot 3217: 2011 Porsche 911 GT2 RS

Classic cars

Cars for sale

Resources

Lot 3217: 2011 Porsche 911 GT2 RS

Become a CLASSIC Insider