Porsche 911 GT3 R Rutronik Racing No. 96 Müller Niederhauser Picariello 2nd 24h Spa 2025 IXO Models 1:18

IXO Models' 1:18 scale model car of the #96 Rutronik Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R documents one of the most closely contested finishes in recent 24-hour racing. Unveiled to the public at the 2022 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps and eligible for global GT3 competition from 2023, the 992-generation GT3 R went on to produce a race result at that very circuit that will define the 992.1 homologation era for many collectors.

The 992-Generation GT3 R: Engineering the Flat-Six Forward

Porsche's 992.1 GT3 R centres on a water-cooled, naturally aspirated 4,194 cc flat-six producing up to 416 kW (565 hp) subject to FIA Balance of Performance — a five-percent displacement increase over its predecessor's 3,997 cc unit. To free space for an enlarged underbody diffuser, engineers tilted the engine 5.5 degrees forward and relocated auxiliary units towards the front axle. The result is a car 4,619 mm long with a 2,507 mm wheelbase and a base weight of approximately 1,250 kg, built around a sequential six-speed dog-engagement gearbox derived from the 911 GT3 Cup.

549 Laps, 8.703 Seconds: The 2025 Spa Narrative

Starting from 15th on the grid after Superpole, the #96 Rutronik Racing entry climbed to fourth by two-thirds distance. A well-timed pit stop immediately before a Full Course Yellow gave the team a decisive time gain, briefly putting them in the lead with three hours remaining. Sven Müller, Patric Niederhauser and Alessio Picariello — all Porsche factory drivers — ultimately crossed the line 2nd overall, 8.703 seconds behind the winning #63 Grasser Racing Lamborghini. All three were subsequently classified first in the Intercontinental GT Challenge standings from this round, and Picariello and Niederhauser went on to claim the 2025 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup title with Rutronik Racing.

IXO Models at 1:18: Die-Cast Metal in Yellow and Blue

IXO Models produced this replica in die-cast metal at 1:18, replicating the team's established yellow and blue livery — the colours of Remchingen-based Rutronik Elektronische Bauelemente GmbH, the electronic components distributor that backs the squad. The model sits within IXO's 2025 endurance series, a focused run of 1:18 Porsche customer-racing subjects covering significant results from that season's long-distance calendar.

In the Display Cabinet

At 1:18, the model measures approximately 25.5 cm in length — enough to demand a dedicated shelf position alongside GT3 endurance subjects of the same era. The yellow and blue colourway reads strongly under display lighting and pairs naturally with other 992-generation GT3 R entries or with the broader Rutronik Racing lineage from Spa. For the collector focused on 2025 GT World Challenge Europe, this is the race-winning IGTC entry from the season's headline endurance round.