Trofeu's DSN43 collection has long occupied a specific corner of the rally miniature market: low production runs, accurate liveries, subjects the mainstream manufacturers pass over. This 1:43 resin model of the #17 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 3.0 — entered by the Sunoco Racing Team – Marlboro at the 1979 Ypres 24 Hours Rally — is exactly that kind of piece. It freezes a precise moment in Belgian privateer motorsport, limited to 150 examples worldwide.
The G-Series Carrera RS 3.0: Evolution of a Homologation Weapon
Introduced in 1974 as a G-series (third series) development of the original 2.7 RS, the Porsche 911 Carrera RS 3.0 retained the steel monocoque and adopted the generation's impact bumpers while growing its air-cooled flat-six to 2,994 cc. Output in road-going specification was rated at approximately 230 PS (DIN); competition-prepared variants ran higher figures. FIA Group 4 homologation — issued as number 3053 from 1 July 1973 — remained valid until 31 December 1979, giving the RS 3.0 a competitive window that spanned the mid-to-late 1970s rally scene across Europe.
Ypres 1979: Moortgat's Championship Run on Tarmac
The 1979 Ypres 24 Hours Rally, held 29 June – 1 July in Ypres, Belgium, covered 545.50 km of special stages — every metre on asphalt. It drew 169 entries and produced 55 classified finishers, and it counted simultaneously as round 15 of the European Rally Championship, round 5 of the West European Rally Cup, and round 6 of the Belgian national series. Rudolf Moortgat, competing under the pseudonym 'Andy', and co-driver Rik Deconinck ran car #17 for the Sunoco Racing Team – Marlboro (Autostal Duindistel). Their campaign across the 1979 season culminated in Moortgat being crowned Belgian National Rally Champion. The Ypres event, one of the premier all-tarmac rallies in European motorsport since its founding in 1965, was central to that title.
Trofeu DSN43: Resin Precision at 1:43
The model is produced by Trofeu as part of the DSN43 collection — a resin series, not die-cast. The white body with red livery details faithfully reproduces the #17 race specification, including the Sunoco Racing Team – Marlboro branding. Production is capped at 150 units, placing this firmly in specialist-collector territory rather than general retail. Resin construction at 1:43 allows sharp surface definition on the Carrera RS 3.0's characteristic bodywork, from its rear-engine lid louvres to the G-series bumper treatment. No opening parts are present on resin models of this type; detail is concentrated on the exterior surfaces and livery accuracy.
In the Display Cabinet: Scale, Pairing and Context
At 1:43, the model measures approximately 9.5 cm in length — compact enough for dense shelf arrangements. The 911 Carrera RS 3.0's real-world length of 4,145 mm translates neatly to the 1:43 footprint, making it compatible with standard rally diorama bases designed for the scale. It sits naturally alongside other Trofeu DSN43 releases covering 1970s–1980s ERC and national championship subjects, or within a broader Porsche rally collection that includes the 911 SC entries from the same era. For collectors focusing on Belgian motorsport history, car #17 represents a named championship result — a distinction that separates it from generic event replicas.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the 1:43 scale model?
The real Porsche 911 Carrera RS 3.0 measures 4,145 mm in length. At 1:43 scale, that translates to approximately 9.5 cm on the shelf — a compact footprint that fits comfortably in a standard display cabinet alongside other 1:43 rally models without requiring extra clearance.
Does the model have opening parts?
No. As a resin model from Trofeu's DSN43 collection, the body is a sealed one-piece construction with no opening doors, bonnet or engine cover. Collector interest is concentrated on the exterior: the white and red livery, the #17 race number, and the Sunoco Racing Team – Marlboro markings.
What makes this a limited edition and how scarce is it?
Trofeu has capped production of this DSN43 piece at 150 units worldwide. That figure, combined with the niche subject matter — a Belgian national rally championship entry from 1979 — means secondary-market availability will be narrow once the initial allocation is distributed.
Why is the 1979 Ypres event historically significant for this car?
The FIA Group 4 homologation for the Porsche 911 Carrera RS 3.0 expired on 31 December 1979, so the Ypres 24 Hours Rally on 29 June – 1 July 1979 falls in one of the car's final seasons of full eligibility. Additionally, Moortgat and Deconinck's 1979 campaign — of which this event was part — ended with Moortgat winning the Belgian National Rally Championship, giving the #17 livery a direct title association.
