<< Prev Page 2 of 2 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 live 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. << Prev Page 2 of 2
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924 Carrera GTS
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.