In 1974, Porsche sent two experimental turbocharged prototypes to the Circuit de la Sarthe as rolling testbeds for a technology that would eventually define the brand's road and race cars for decades. Car #21, assigned to Helmut Koinigg and Manfred Schurti, crossed the finish line 2nd overall behind the Matra MS670C of Pescarolo and Larrousse. Spark Model has captured that result in a 1:43 resin model that holds the full weight of that milestone.
A Factory Experiment Built in a Pair
Porsche constructed just two Carrera RSR Turbo 2.1 cars for the 1974 season. Each used a 2.14-litre air-cooled flat-six fitted with a single KKK turbocharger, producing approximately 450–500 hp in race configuration. The wide rear arches, distinctive "whale tail" rear wing and broad stance distinguished the cars visually from the normally aspirated RSR 3.0 entries also running that year. The hardware was not merely a racing exercise: it served as direct engineering groundwork for the 930 Turbo road car that reached production in 1975.
Second Overall at La Sarthe — and a Driver Lost Too Soon
The 1974 24 Hours of Le Mans proved the turbo concept under full race conditions. Car #21 (Koinigg/Schurti) finished 2nd; the sister car #22 (van Lennep/Müller) took 3rd, giving Porsche an unprecedented turbo 1–2–3 podium behind the Matra winner. Helmut Koinigg, an Austrian driver who had also entered Formula 1 that season, died at the United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen just months after Le Mans. His podium at La Sarthe remains one of the defining moments of a career cut short at 25.
Resin Construction by Spark Model
This is a 1:43 scale model produced by Spark Model in resin. The body is a sealed one-piece casting, which allows the Martini Racing livery — white base with diagonal red and blue stripes and race number 21 — to be rendered with the flat, precise finish that resin construction permits. The aerodynamic bodywork, including the characteristic whale-tail rear wing and flared arches, is reproduced in the proportions of the original 4,163 mm car.
Display Context and Collection Fit
At 1:43, the model measures approximately 9.5 cm in length, fitting comfortably on a standard collector shelf or in a dedicated 1:43 display case. It pairs naturally with Spark's #22 van Lennep/Müller entry to recreate the complete Porsche turbo podium from 1974. Collectors building a Martini Racing sequence — or a Porsche Le Mans history — will find this car sits at the origin point: the first turbocharged Porsche to finish on the overall Le Mans podium.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the 1:43 scale model?
The real Porsche 911 Carrera RSR Turbo 2.1 is 4,163 mm long. At 1:43 scale that gives a model length of approximately 9.5 cm. That fits easily into a standard 1:43 display case or on a shelf alongside other models in the same scale.
Does the model have opening parts?
No. As a resin model, the body is a sealed one-piece construction with no opening doors, bonnet or engine cover. Detail is concentrated on the exterior surfaces: the whale-tail rear wing, wide rear arches, Martini Racing livery and race number 21.
Who were the drivers of car #21 at Le Mans 1974?
Helmut Koinigg, an Austrian driver who also competed in Formula 1 in 1974, and Manfred Schurti, a Liechtenstein-born Porsche factory co-driver. Koinigg died at the 1974 US Grand Prix at Watkins Glen, making this Le Mans podium one of his last major results.
What makes the 1974 Porsche RSR Turbo 2.1 historically significant?
Only two were built. They were factory prototypes built specifically to test turbocharging in endurance racing, and they finished 2nd and 3rd overall at Le Mans 1974. The technology directly informed the Porsche 930 Turbo road car that entered production in 1975.
