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  Porsche 911 GT2 R      

  Article Image gallery (148) Chassis (8) Specifications  
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Country of origin:Germany
Produced from:1995 - 1998
Numbers built:243 (Competition cars)
Price new:DM 398,500
Internal name:993
Successor:Porsche 911 GT2 Evo 2
Author:Wouter Melissen
Last updated:October 23, 2013
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Click here to download printer friendly versionFollowing the collapse of the World Sports Car Championship in 1992 and the subsequent demise of the Group C prototype class, production-based GT cars once again came to the fore. Porsche Motorsport's engineers quickly responded with a competition version of the newly introduced, 993-generation 911 Turbo. Simply dubbed the GT2 after its intended class, the new Porsche racing car was launched at the 1994 Essen Motor Show. To fully homologate the new 911 GT2, at least 25 road cars had to be produced. This proved no problem as within the first year 43 examples had already been sold.

One of the main reasons that the 911 GT2 had to be homologated as a separate model, even though it was based on the 911 Turbo, was that it featured rear-wheel drive only. Further modifications to the chassis included revised suspension sourced from the 993 Cup car. Standard equipment on the competition version, the road-going GT2 could be fitted with the Club Sport package, which included a roll-cage, six-point harness, racing seats, a fire extinguisher and a battery cut-off switch. Exterior modifications included a front spoiler, dramatically flared wheel arches and a tall rear wing. The road car tipped the scales at 1,290 kg, while the further stripped out competition GT2 weighed 1,150 kg.

Both versions of the GT2 used an engine derived from the 911 Turbo flat six. On the road car, the catalytic converters were removed and an additional oil cooler fitted. In this guise, it initially produced 430 bhp and later 450 bhp. The competition engine featured different KKK turbochargers, larger intercoolers, high-lift camshafts and a bespoke exhaust system. Breathing through two mandatory restrictors, it officially produced the 450 bhp prescribed by the GT2 regulations but a figure of around 475 bhp was more realistic. Like the road car, the GT2 R boasted a G50 gearbox with six forward speeds. For competition purposes, close-ratio gears were fitted.

While Porsche had no problem selling the road going homologation models, they found even more takers for the competition car. Launched at the start of the 1995 season, it instantly was the weapon of choice in the GT2 class, dominating championships around the world, including the BPR Championship in Europe and the IMSA Sports Car Championship. At Le Mans, privately entered GT2s were driven to class victories in 1996 and 1997.

At times, the privately run machines even managed to challenge the intrinsically quicker GT1 cars for outright victories. One of Porsche's privateers, Larbre, set about modifying their GT2 to compete in GT1 proper. The main difference was a revised engine with larger restrictors that raised the power to 600 bhp. It also featured more lightweight panels, a bigger wing and wider track. Recognising an opportunity, Porsche offered the similar GT2 Evo model. While faster than the GT2, it would still be no match for the purpose built GT1 cars that were pressed into service from the 1996 season onwards.

After three seasons of racing with only minor modifications, Porsche offered a new lease of life for the GT2 in 1998 to allow the customers to go wheel to wheel with the very quick new Vipers. It featured new twin-spark ignition and revised KKK turbos. This helped lift the power to 485 bhp. There were many more detail changes with new, wider wheels, a revised aero package and refined anti-roll bars. Of the 1998 specification GT2s, a further 13 examples were built. It proved successful in local championships but still struggled against the works supported Vipers at races like Le Mans.

When the 993 model was superseded by the 996 model in, Porsche opted to focus on a naturally aspirated competition car aimed for the GT3 class from the 1999 season onwards. The GT2 model did return but strictly as a high performance, rear-wheel drive road car. The 993-model 911 GT2 was not only a success on the racing track, it was also a very profitable enterprise for Porsche as around 300 examples of all variants were built and sold to customers.

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  Article Image gallery (148) Chassis (8) Specifications