For this celebration, Porsche has gone back in time: the racing numbers of the two specially-decorated 911 RSRs are reversed in relation to the historical chronology of the two cars to which they refer.

To understand, let's go back to the #92 driven by Michael Christensen, Kévin Estre and Laurens Vanthoor at the 1971 24 Hours. That year, the Porsche 917 dominated endurance racing, securing the German marque's first win at Le Mans. Among the seven 917s at the start, one definitely stood out. As a nod to the region, home of pork "rillettes," Martini Racing's factory #23 917/20 was painted entirely pink, with dotted lines outlining the sections of meat on a pig. The Pink Pig, as it is now affectionately known, was immediately well-received, except by Martini, who decided to pull its logo from the car. During the race, its drivers Reinhold Joest (now the winningest team owner in the history of the 24 Hours with 15 victories) and Willi Kauhsen were forced to retire. The technical aspects of that 917/20 inspired the final version called the 917/30 seen in the U.S. in 1973, then the Porsche 936 winner at Le Mans in 1976, 1977 and 1981.

The livery on the #91 911 RSR shared by Gianmaria Bruni-Richard Lietz-Frédéric Makowiecki references the following decade. First appearing in 1982 under Group C technical regulations, the 956 - then its successor, the 962 C - maintained lasting domination with as many as six consecutive wins between 1982 and 1987, including four in the blue, white, red and gold livery (1982, 1983, 1986 and 1987). The first participation in 1982 was a true triumph, with a hat trick in numerical order: winners Derek Bell-Jacky Ickx (#1), second place finishers Jochen Mass-Vern Schuppan (#2) and third place finishers Jürgen Barth-Hurley Haywood-Al Holbert (#3), seven drivers with 20 Le Mans victories between them. Derek Bell also drove the winning car in 1982, 1986 and 1987.

In 2018, Porsche GT Team counts in its ranks four 24 Hours winners (though they will not be driving either anniversary 911 RSR). Among them, Romain Dumas and Timo Bernhard. Romain Dumas: "I would have liked to drive the 91 because it reminds me of the colors of the 956 and 962. The pink looks good on the 911 RSR but the white lines make the 91 stand out." Timo Bernhard admits his fondness for the 1980s livery: "These two cars are amazing, I like the pink, but the livery on the Group C era car reminds me more of my childhood (he was born in 1981, Ed.). It's great to see Porsche paying tribute to a legacy few constructors can claim. What the marque achieved in past decades makes me grateful to represent it in one of the best sports in the world."

The 86th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans started out on a very positive note for both cars after they clocked the fastest times in LMGTE Pro at qualifying, with #91 followed by the #92.

MAIN PHOTO (Copyright - Jean-Pierre Espitalier/ACO): The #91 and #92 911 RSRs are also participating in the entire Super Season of the World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) ending one year from now with the 87th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.