Well, fifteen years ago may not pass as classic in some’s opinion, but the 996-generation RSRs do seem slightly old-fashioned when compared to the modern iterations of the 911 racing car. Though this late-model 996 RSR uses a sequential gearbox—popping wildly with every seamless gearchange—it’s still an old-school, raucous racer that hops around and ruins the bystanders’ hearing.

The motor undoubtedly takes center-stage here, deafening everyone in the vicinity. As it blares off the line, the driver of this RSR deploys all 500 horsepower and puts it down easily with the engine pressing the wide slicks into the pavement. It doesn’t take much to get this car off the line since it weighs just 2,500 pounds, but it’s just so cool to see how quickly it blitzes down the road.

Photo credit: fpak.pt

It hops around like the stiffly-sprung track weapon it is, but it doesn’t seem to skip over the asphalt. For the RSR, Porsche revised the suspension’s mounting points and offered Sachs gas shocks for a little better roadholding. Whether or not the car was hugely dependent on its aerodynamic grip isn’t obvious, but it seems to be irrelevant here. At the relatively slow speeds, the car still rolls slightly to provide the driver with a feel of the limit and any impending slides. For that reason, the little 996 RSR looks so predictable, so fun, and even if it’s a complete handful to drive, you’ll be able to enjoy forcing the bystanders to rely on subtitles for the rest of their lives, if you’re a sick sort of racing driver.