Just nine months lay between the decision to build a near-standard yet competitive racing vehicle for the Le Mans GT1 class and the pre-qualification for the race, which the two new 911 GT1s with Thierry Boutsen, Hans-Joachim Stuck, Bob Wollek, as well as Yannick Dalmas, Scott Goodyear and Karl Wendlinger manage without a problem.

The technology of the new 911 GT1 comply in deed and in spirit to the regulations. The front section and the body platform closely resemble the road-going model. The body consists of carbon-fibre Kevlar. A subframe houses the engine, gearbox and rear suspension. For time and cost reasons, Porsche forgoes a carbon-fibre body. Total weight: 1,050 kilos.

The 3.2-litre six-cylinder power unit with two turbo-chargers and two ACO-regulation air restrictors delivers around 600 hp. The boxer mid-engine lies just in front of the rear axle. Apart from a good weight distribution this also makes a promising aerodynamic layout possible, for instance a diffusor under the rear of the vehicle. The strengthened six-speed gearbox with its oil circuit is housed behind the engine. 380 millimetre, internally ventilated carbon brake discs combined with Brembo fixed calipers – eight pistons at the front and four at the rear – in conjunction with an ABS, provide an excellent deceleration of the ca. 320 kph 911 GT1.

In the race the GT1 indeed proves to be a candidate for the overall win. After Stuck avoids an opponent and drives through the gravel, the underbody of his GT1 and front hood must be changed. At the finish line the Bavarian together with Boutsen and Wollek lie one lap behind the victorious Joest WSC. Dalmas, Goodyear and Wendlinger take third, after the Frenchman took a trip into the gravel damaging a brake caliper, Wendlinger needed repairs to the front after a spin, and Goodyear came into the pits with damage to the body.

After the Le Mans success the new GT1 went on to secure victory in the BPR GT series in Brands Hatch (England), Spa Francorchamps (Belgium) and Zhuhai (China).