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Porsche 993 GT1
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After a successful motorsports season in 1995 in the GT2 category, Porsche made it their duty to develop an automobile capable of winning the even more powerful GT1 category which, despite all modifications, could be recognized as a 911 at first sight. The result is something to be quite proud of. Despite this, the concept of the GT1 distinctly deviates from the long technical course of the 911. One of these differences is that the Flat-6 engine for the first time ever in a racing version of a production vehicle - moves towards the center. Exactly where its place had always been in the sports prototypes built by Porsche. Another major difference is the engine. The horizontally opposed 6-cylinder engine of the 911 GT1 is fully water cooled. This might have been shocking for 1996, because the 911 [993 generation] was still air cooled, but the world knew the next year of the water cooled 996.
The whole concept of the GT1 class must be first understood before appreciating the true beauty of the 911 GT1. The GT1 class was for race cars which were based on production cars. Thus, Porsche based its GT1 on the 911, using its engine and looks, but moved the engine, and severely increased HP. Because of this, some competitors, like McLaren, argued that the 911 GT1 was not really an evolution of the 911, but just a new car with the looks of the 911.
The premiere of the 911 GT1 was at the 24-hours race of Le Mans in 1996: superior double victory in the GT1 category and positions 2 and 3 in the overall placing behind the Joest TWR Prototype (962 derived) Porsche. After the race, McLaren was in a frenzy about the past 24 Hours. They said Porsche "took the fun out of the race" and went on about how it was unfair that they made the GT1 and entered it. Porsches kicked McLaren all over the race track and McLaren couldn't handle it. Their golden-boy, the F1 car, had been embarrased in front of everyone.
In the end, the 911 GT1 had air restrictors forced upon it, forcing the horsepower down to about 600, far from its potential of 700+ horsepower. Meanwhile, McLaren countered with its F1 GTR, which was even faster than their previous model. Toyota, Nissan, and a host of others were so pissed off about the 911 GT1 and how it dominated in 1996 that they were all destined to 'beat the Porsches' in 1997. They all spent millions of dollars on their own brand new GT racecars to use at LeMans in '97.
Porsche 993 GT1 1996
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Porsche 996 GT1 1997
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The whole concept of the GT1 class must be first understood before appreciating the true beauty of the 911 GT1. The GT1 class was for race cars which were based on production cars. Thus, Porsche based its GT1 on the 911, using its engine and looks, but moved the engine, and severely increased HP. Because of this, some competitors, like McLaren, argued that the 911 GT1 was not really an evolution of the 911, but just a new car with the looks of the 911.
The premiere of the 911 GT1 was at the 24-hours race of Le Mans in 1996: superior double victory in the GT1 category and positions 2 and 3 in the overall placing behind the Joest TWR Prototype (962 derived) Porsche. After the race, McLaren was in a frenzy about the past 24 Hours. They said Porsche "took the fun out of the race" and went on about how it was unfair that they made the GT1 and entered it. Porsches kicked McLaren all over the race track and McLaren couldn't handle it. Their golden-boy, the F1 car, had been embarrased in front of everyone.
In the end, the 911 GT1 had air restrictors forced upon it, forcing the horsepower down to about 600, far from its potential of 700+ horsepower. Meanwhile, McLaren countered with its F1 GTR, which was even faster than their previous model. Toyota, Nissan, and a host of others were so pissed off about the 911 GT1 and how it dominated in 1996 that they were all destined to 'beat the Porsches' in 1997. They all spent millions of dollars on their own brand new GT racecars to use at LeMans in '97.
Porsche 993 GT1 1996
Porsche 996 GT1 1997
