What’s it like to drive a Porsche 911 GT1 Evo?

‘So, are you up for a drive in the Porsche 911 GT1 Evo. You know, the factory car from Le Mans 1997?’ Since the question materialized out of thin air, the answer did not formulate itself immediately. Instead, as I was trying to formulate the letters y, e and s in the right order, in the back of my mind, another question lingered. ‘Are you? Really?’.

The GT1 is the ultimate 911 in racing. Just once did the Porsche factory team win the Le Mans 24 Hours overall with a 911. Yes, there is the Porsche 935 K3 as well in 1979, but that victory belongs to the Kremer team. In 1998, Porsche set the record straight with a 1-2 with that year’s GT1, a prototype that only had the headlamp design in common with the road-going 911.

Rulebook

It was the end of a three-year program with the GT1, that had started in 1996. The GT1 category welcomed cars like the McLaren F1 and the Jaguar XJ220. With the rulebook specifying just the one road car sufficed for homologation, the clever Porsche engineer Norbert Singer once more found a way for Porsche to shine.

With the first Porsche 911 GT1 in 1996, Singer raised eyebrows. There were complaints his vision – you make a race car which you then homologate for the road – was against the spirit of the rules. But there was no question he strictly followed the rules. In order to comply, Singer married the front of a Porsche 911 – the 993 type, which had been fully crash-tested and homologated – to a mid-engined rear. The engine was based on the 962 Group C prototype. The GT1 came second in its first year.

More efficient Evo

For 1997, Singer came up with a faster, more aerodynamically efficient car: the 911 GT1 Evo, which received the 996 type headlights. Faster it was. Both factory 911 GT1 Evos dominated the race. This particular car with start number 26 was on course for victory, until this happened with just a couple of hours of racing to go. After 1997, chassis #005 ran in the IMSA championship under Champion colours where it scored class wins at Road Atlanta and the tumultuous Petit Le Mans (also held at Road Atlanta) in 1998.

It’s a highly significant car – Paul Newman also raced it – and it’s now brought back to how it looked in 1997. As it sits in the pitlane at the Most (Czech Republic) track, the question resurfaces: ‘are you ready? But really?’ I’ve heard the car start up for some installation laps, and it did nothing to put my mind to rest. The brutal bark gnaws away at you. It’s clear the GT1 is ready. But what about the driver?

Think happy thoughts

The secret – honestly – lies in positive thinking. This is a car developed by Porsche and Norbert Singer, one of the finest engineers alive. It has been developed to both be put to the test by the most talented drivers of their generation – think Stuck, Boutsen, Collard – and to be comfortable enough to last a 24-hour race. If you drive within your limits, there are no reasons why this should end in tears. No really: early on the brakes, late on the throttle. No really, you’ll be fine. Now, go get your helmet and stop fretting. You’ll be fine. Really.

As the open door beckons, it’s too late to back out now. Curiosity has the upper hand now, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. This invitation is one time only. The news is good too. You step into the car, almost like you would do in a road car. You sit far back, almost like in normal 911. Look, there is even the key on the left. The cabin is roomy and feels comfortable, as the harness is fastened. All good.

Easy

Of course, that 3.2-litre shouts in anger at start up, but it also quickly settles down. And it’s so easy on the clutch as you pull away. The gearchange is both light and precise. The brakes feel strong. Dear me, there was no reason to worry at all. This car is in fact very easy on the driver. It just takes a couple of laps for your confidence to grow. Anxiety makes way for enthusiasm. This thing simply is a legend.

For the full appraisal on this 600 hp weapon and the portrait of chassis #005, we recommend getting a copy of issue 9 – the 60 years Porsche 911 competition history.

Thanks to Jan B. Luehn, Britec Motorsports and the Most Autodrom for their assistance with this feature.