1980 Porsche 924 Carrera GTP - Images, Specifications and Information

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There are various reasons why manufacturers go racing. Improving the breed is of course the most noble, but more often it is to try and sell more cars. It was most certainly a case of the latter when Porsche showed a racing version of the 924 Turbo at the 1979 IAA in Frankfurt. Dubbed the 'Carrera' and painted white, it featured a flared body and a hood scoop. The shape of the concept car would form the basis for a limited run of homologation specials.

Porsche's racing engineers developed both the road going homologation special and the racing car side by side. The 924 Carrera GT road was based on the 924 Turbo, but was widened and lightened considerably. By boosting the turbo-pressure and the compression, the blown four cylinder engine produced an impressive 210 bhp. Production of the 400 examples required started in August of 1980 and despite the high price and the fact that it was available in black, red or silver, they sold like hot cakes. The 924 had always been praised for its great handling and with the additional power and wider track, it was a proper road racer.

While the Carrera GT was still under development, the first racing cars were already assembled at Weissach. Although not yet fully homologated, three 924 racing cars were prepared for that year's Le Mans race. Compared to the Carrera GT, the new racing car featured an even wider body with four large headlights designed for racing in the dark at Le Mans. The engine was further developed and equipped with a massive nose-mounted intercooler and Kugelfischer fuel injection system. The turbo pressure was almost doubled resulting in a staggering 320 bhp. Further lightening brought the weight well down to 945 kg from the 1180 of the road car.

Not homologated yet, the three Porsches were forced to run in the GTP class against cars that were built as racing cars from the ground up. Suitably the 924s were renamed Carrera GTP. Clearly the underdogs, Porsche spiced things up by running the three cars as a British, American and German team. The four cylinder racers were dwarfed in qualifying by the much larger engined competition, placing 34th, 44th and 46th on the grid. In the very wet race the 924's handling and Porsche's famed reliability made its mark as the cars gradually moved up the grid while the other cars slid off the road or expired. The 'German' Carrera GTP eventually fought its way up to sixth overall and third in class. The other two cars finished fifth and sixth in class.

Shortly after the Le Mans race, the Carrera GT was offered and by Christmas 406 examples had rolled off the production line. That cleared the way for a second and more extreme homologation special needed to homologate the Carrera GTP spec car. Dubbed the Carrera GTS, the new road car was lighter and especially the nose resembled the GTP car more closely. The turbo's pressure was increased even further with a 245 bhp output as a result. It did make the Carrare GTS rather difficult to drive and quite a few were equipped with the 275 bhp 'Club Sport' option and used as trackday cars. All painted red, the required fifty cars were ready and lined up for inspection in March of 1981.

As of March 1981 the 924 Carrera racing car was fully homologated and the production of new chassis was well under way. To distinguish it from the cars that raced at Le Mans in 1980, the new car was dubbed the Carrera GTR. It incorporated all the lessons learned and sported the most powerful 924 engine. Amazingly all of the GTR's 375 horses were still transferred from the clutch to the transaxle by the stock 924 Turbo light-alloy propshaft. Two examples were fielded at Le Mans, but they did not leave up to the high expectations. One car retired early, while the other finished a distant fourth in class. Three cars were raced in 1982 and this time with more success as the BF Goodrich entered example scored a class victory. It was the last appearance for the 924 at Le Mans as it was replaced by the twin-cam 944. The GTRs continued to be raced in North America, but with limited success.

Featured is the 'American' Porsche 924 Carrera GTP that was raced at Le Mans in 1980 by Derek Bell and Al Holbert. After finishing 13th at Le Mans, the car was bought by Holbert and brought the United States. He raced it in 1982 and also used as a pattern for a small run of 924 racing cars. It was raced for many years after and when it was finally retired, it was painted purple. Fortunately it found a place in the collection of a Porsche enthusiast, who completely restored the Carrera GTP to its 1980 Le Mans livery. Today its owned by another American enthusiast, who entrusted the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance class winning GTP to journalist Kerry Morse for the 2007 Monterey Historic Races where it is pictured above.