With a lifespan of over 50 years, the Porsche 911 has
evolved arguably more than any other car model out there. By following the
evolution of the 911 you get a clear picture of how racing has evolved, and how
Porsche has evolved in general. 911’s are still around today and they have been
being produced in one variation or another since 1963. From their original inception
they have been modified to use in various races by both Porsche teams and
private teams as well.
Porsche continually works to improve upon past models of
their vehicles, and they have always fought to stay on the forefront of car
technology. All of the successes that the 911 cars have had in racing proves that Porsche values innovation, and creating the
best possible product, after all private teams line up to buy cars from Porsche
that they will use to win some of the most competitive races on the planet.
The Early Years
The very first 911 was created as a power upgrade to the
original Porsche 356. The basic idea of the car was a sports car version of the
Beetle. The original 911 was innovative at the time because its engine was
mounted in the rear of the car and it was air-cooled for improved performance.
The flat-6 engine was in the “boxer” configuration just like the Porsche 356,
but it had 6 cylinders instead of 4. This initial 911 only had 120 horsepower,
but that didn't people from racing it, and it was seen as a powerhouse of the
day.
The 911 in Racing
The Porsche 911 has always been thought of as a race car
that is also a consumer product. Many of the adjustments that were made to the
911 were due to racing restrictions that required the car to be changed around,
and others were due to technological advancements that were incorporated into
newer models.
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| Porsche Racing |
The 911 Carrera RSR 3.0 was sold off to several different
racing teams throughout the 1970’s and those cars were used to win several
racing events. These vehicles were able to take home the victory in the Targa
Florio, and the Daytona, Sebring and Nurburgring racing events.
The RSR Turbo Prototype
The RSR Turbo prototype nearly took first place at the 24
Hours of Le Mans endurance race in 1974 but they ended up in second place. This
same prototype was used to win many of the other major races throughout the
year as well.
The 911 GT1 was developed in 1996 in order to be able to
compete in the GT1 Le Mans class. This car is thought to be one of the most
powerful road-racing Porsches ever created. It has a total 700 horsepower, can
go from 0 to 60 in 3.3 seconds and tops out at 235 mph. The engine utilizes
twin-turbo charging in order to create its immense power. This same model won
Le Mans in 1998 in an impressive display of power. In order for the car to be
entered, there had to be a minimum of 25 of the cars created, so Porsche had 25
created and entered into the race.
Private Racers
After being tested out by one of the official Porsche racing
teams, most of the 911 models are sold to private consumers who often use them
in races themselves. Many of the victories using Porsche 911 models were
achieved by private teams who bought the vehicles off of Porsche after the
initial trial period.
