Earlier this year, Porsche Netherlands revealed that it had modified eight VW ID. Buzzes to look like the classic Renndienst support vehicles that supplied its racecars. Now, Porsche Germany has revealed that it will use two such vehicles to support its one-make racing series.
“The history surrounding the T1 and T2 Porsche Renndienst buses is unique. Like the Porsche race cars they accompanied, the red buses also achieved cult status,” said Lars Krause, head of marketing and sales for VW Commercial Vehicles. “We are building on this and reviving the partnership in a very contemporary way: still dark red, but now also noticeably quiet—because they are electric, with the ID. Buzz as a basis.”
The two vehicles made their debut at the Porsche Carrera Cup Germany race at Spa-Francorchamps. Next, they will be present at the Festival of Dreams at the Hockenheimring, and at several other events for the series, where they will really help the race teams.
Read: Porsche Gives The VW ID.Buzz A Renndienst Makeover
“I am delighted that the legendary Renndienst bus is experiencing a revival in the Porsche Carrera Cup Germany,” said Alexander Pollich, CEO of Porsche Deutschland. “The two ID. Buzz with a racing design will accompany us to every race over the next few months and support our teams in their work.”
The Renndienst tradition dates all the way back to 1954, when Porsche bought a Volkswagen T1 microbus to help support its entry in the Mille Miglia. Still a very small company at the time, it didn’t have a vehicle of its own to haul racecars around.
The Renndienst vans were painted dark red and played an integral part in Porsche’s racing efforts. Not only did they carry tools and spare parts, they also sometimes acted as sleeping quarters for engineers and other team members.
Now that the brand is celebrating its 75th anniversary, it’s only appropriate that its past is being celebrated, even when that history was made by a vehicle that left another automaker’s factory.
