In 1997. As the 1990s got underway, interest in worldwide sports car racing soared. Thats is when Porsche decided to join the BPR Global GT1 Championship, which would subsequently evolve into the FIA World GT Championship in 1997. The problem was that after losing to the ferocious McLaren F1 GTRs in 1995, their 962 GT racers weren’t up to the task anymore. So, a new vehicle was required.
Six weeks later the Porsche 911 GT1 arrived. The 911 GT1 was mid-engined, which was a departure from the rear-engined 911s, but another feature stood out: it was created specifically as a race car, not as a street-legal vehicle.
The 3.2-liter, water-cooled flat-six engine with two KKK turbochargers producing 592 horsepower was the preferred option. It was elegantly concealed beneath a luxurious carbon fiber body.
Porsche’s first goal was to match the weight of the McLaren F1 GTR. However, Porsche engineers ultimately settled on 1,050 kilos, which allowed them to increase the 911 GT1’s horsepower and install a wider air inlet.
At the 1996 Le Mans 24 Hour Race, when it made its début, the 911 GT1 finished second and third overall and first and second in its class.
In 1997, as the FIA World GT Championship was taking shape, a fresh foe was emerging: the Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR. Porsche responded by developing a better 911 GT1 model and adding the Evolution suffix.
The Porsche 911 GT1 didn’t win in 1997, but Porsche kept the project alive by developing a carbon-fiber chassis that helped the GT1 finish in first and second place at Le Mans in 1998.
In 1997 the 911 GT1 Straßenversion (or Strassenversion, literally ‘street version’ in German) was born
Mo and Sameer, the Yin and Yang of automotive journalism, and editors of the most read automotive publication in the Gulf region reveal collections that will take your breath away, whether they are vintage, brand-new, one-of-a-kind, or rare.
Enjoy the leading Arabic and English Motoring streaming channel in the Middle East with access to Originals, Interviews, Test Drives & Reviews from the Arab world.
MotoroxTV, is the leading motoring digital platform that is based in Bahrain and is dedicated to showcasing what the Middle East is doing when it comes to automotive. Our top-notch team headed by Sameer Uchi (host of Arabia Motors Netflix Show) publishes short films on Supercars, Superbikes, Custom Bikes, Modified Cars, Auto Events, Auto Racing, interviews, Test Drives, Car Reviews, Motorbike reviews, and much more.
