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Porsche 911 GT1 – The Grand Touring Meister

Porsche GT1 (1997), photographed in June 2016
1997 Porsche 911 GT1-109 photographed in June 2016
1997 Porsche 911 GT1-109 photographed in June 2016

Porsche 993 GT1 chassis #109 was one of just nine customer racing Porsche 911 GT1s built between 1996 and 1998. The 911 GT1 became the Grand Touring Meister when it triumphed in the 1998 Le Mans 24 Hours, but its route to success was not an easy one and at one point, the whole GT1 project looked in jeopardy.

1997 Porsche 911 GT1-109 photographed in June 2016
1997 Porsche 911 GT1-109 photographed in June 2016

How did the 911 GT1 come about

Porsche is accustomed to adapting its models and technology to suit various race or class regulations. Looking back through their history, they achieved this with the extremely successful 934 and 935 models, the 924 GTP, the 959/961, and in the mid-90s with the Dauer 962LM GT. But it was through an intimate knowledge of the model and its performance potential, that led in each case to the creation of a highly successful racing car through an astute application of the rules, all correct and above board.

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