rare 1997 porsche 911 GT2 R emerges in unfinished form at RM sotheby’s

A race icon paused in time

A 1997 Porsche 911 GT2 R sits in stillness, unfinished but full of momentum as a shell steeped in memory and potential. For collectors and racing enthusiasts alike, this is a rare invitation to continue a story that began nearly three decades ago. The Porsche is offered through RM Sotheby’s is one of only ten built during its production year, a number that underscores the scarcity of this particular model. Originally finished in Glacier White, it was delivered to Dutch racer René Snel, who piloted it until a crash in 1999 at Assen marked the end of its first life. In the aftermath, the chassis number moved to a new shell, extending the legacy of the original configuration.

images courtesy RM Sotheby’s

Disassembled but still articulate

Eventually, the 1997 Porsche 911 GT2 R found its way to Klaus Abbelen, a Euro GT Series champion and founder of Frikadelli Racing. Together with Sabine Schmitz, Abbelen turned his racing team into a cult name at the Nürburgring. The GT2 R reemerged under his stewardship in 2001, competing in club events across iconic European circuits including Monza and Hockenheim, its livery a quiet nod to its lineage and its capabilities still very much alive.

By 2014, the Porsche had entered The Stuttgart Legends Collection via Freisinger Motorsport. Its structure was again reworked, with front-end reinforcement welded in during a partial restoration in 2017. The car remains without a formal chassis number and carries an engine of uncertain provenance. Its documentation, however, includes a period Wagenpass and an inspection report by Porsche expert Andy Prill, details that help situate its significance despite the gaps in its mechanical makeup.

the 1997 Porsche 911 GT2 R is one of only ten examples built that year

Eligible for endurance, built for narrative

The 1997 Porsche 911 GT2 R is presented today in a state of suspended restoration. RM Sotheby’s has outlined the parts included and those still needed. The shell, accompanied by BBS center-lock wheels and additional panels, awaits its next evolution. In this in-between moment, it becomes a rare design artifact, stripped of finish but rich with definition.

Once completed to period spec, the car would meet the requirements for entry into esteemed events like Masters Endurance Legends and Peter Auto’s Endurance Racing Legends. Its unfinished condition may deter the fainthearted, but for those drawn to craftsmanship, historic authenticity, and mechanical precision, this is a singular moment to engage directly with the legacy of Porsche’s most visceral GT2-era machine. The auction is set to launch on May 22nd, 2025 — find it here.

the unfinished GT2 R is set to be offered at auction through RM Sotheby’s