When McLaren won at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in its first outing with the F1 GTR in 1995, the world was stunned and Porsche decided it was time for a new race car.
Carfection’s Part 2 of the ‘Ultimate Group Test’ gives us a rare look into perhaps the most extreme road-legal iteration of the Porsche 911: the 911 GT1.
The 911 GT1 was a curious mix of a 993 front end with the rear of a 962 racer, creating the first mid-engined Porsche using the iconic 911 nameplate. In 1997, the stunning race car was dressed to resemble the then-new 996 and the same style was applied to the majority of the around 20 road-going versions built for homologation purposes.
Watch: McLaren F1, Porsche 911 GT1 And Mercedes CLK GTR – Part 1 Of The Ultimate Group Test
The road-going 911 GT1 is powered by a water-cooled twin-turbo 3.2-liter flat-six engine producing 536 HP and bolted to a six-speed manual transmission while weighing just 1,150 kg (2,535 lbs).
The interior might appear far more conventional compared to the McLaren F1’s cabin but then again, every car next to the F1 feels not special enough. The dash is all 993, the doors open conventionally and if it wasn’t for the general snugness and the integrated roll cage, you would think of it as just another Porsche.
However, according to Henry Catchpole, the biggest surprise comes when you start to drive it fast, as the 911 GT1 allows the driver to exploit its limits, grab it by the scruff of the neck, and exercise that twin-turbo flat-six with confidence.
Yes, it’s the least powerful out of the three, but having to move so few pounds combined with the boost from that engine never makes it feel any less energetic. It’s a road racer that invites the driver to go faster and harder, without setting boundaries or requiring familiarity periods.