ID. Buzz

Make
Volkswagen
Segment
Van

The nostalgia continues as Porsche and Volkswagen have brought into service two modified ID. Buzz all-electric Renndienst (Race Service) support vans for the Porsche Carrera Cup Germany and Porsche Sports Cup Germany. Only a couple of months ago, we reported that Porsche had sent eight of these Renndienst vans to dealerships in the Netherlands as part of its ongoing 75th-anniversary celebrations.

With their burgundy paint jobs and white lettering, the ID. Buzz examples bear a very close resemblance to their T1 and T2 ancestors.

"The history surrounding the T1 and T2 Porsche Renndienst buses is unique," said Lars Krause, head of marketing and sales for VW Commercial Vehicles. "Like the Porsche race cars they accompanied, the red buses also achieved cult status. 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."

Both vans have already been utilized at the track for the first race of the Porsche Carrera Cup Germany in Spa-Francorchamps.

"I am delighted that the legendary Renndienst bus is experiencing a revival in the Porsche Carrera Cup Germany," says Alexander Pollich, CEO of Porsche Deutschland GmbH. "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."

For those unfamiliar with Porsche motorsport history, the Renndienst vans were first used way back in 1954 by the Porsche works team at the Mille Miglia. It made complete sense at the time because Porsche lacked a support van capable of transporting the necessary tools and parts required on race day, so they turned to VW for assistance. The first of these air-cooled vans was based on the T1, and Porsche eventually upgraded to the T2 until it stopped using them altogether in the 1970s.

The vans became synonymous with legendary Porsche racing cars like the 904, 908, 910, and 917. Some of the original vans are still around as they've been scooped up by enthusiast collectors and museums. Porsche and VW would very much like to see this new generation of ID. Buzz-based Renndienst vans become collectors' items one day, but, of course, nothing is guaranteed. Steely-eyed collectors should already be taking note.

The Porsche Carrera Cup Germany 2023 racing season will be taking place in four different countries in Europe, including the aforementioned FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) in Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium, followed by the Festival of Dreams at the Hockenheimring in Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany.