1972 Porsche 911 ST 2.5 Recreation Revives a Rare Racing Legend

Competition in the European Touring Car Championship was traditionally intense, and being the premier European series in which Porsche competed, it was especially important to be seen to do well. In the early 1970s, Porsche was experiencing increased competition in Group 2 from the likes of Alfa Romeo, Ford Capri, and BMW, which eroded their domination and presented Porsche with a challenge.

The 911 ST 2.5 was every bit a wolf in sheep’s clothing. © Glen Smale

This wasn’t the first time Porsche had faced stiff opposition on Europe’s race circuits because of its ‘light but nimble’ philosophy. From the outset, Ferry Porsche’s vision for Porsche cars was to build the fastest race car through lightness and reliability, a philosophy that dated back to the company’s inception. But Porsche’s strength also lay in the flexibility and versatility of its boxer engine, an ingenious design that allowed future development and capacity increases.