One to Buy: ex-Konrad Motorsport / JB Racing / Larbre Competition 1997 Porsche 911 GT1 Evolution
As Germany’s most successful marque when it came to Sports and GT racing, McLaren’s mid 90s domination with their BMW-powered F1 GTR was not something Porsche were prepared to accept.
Accordingly, within a few months of the F1 GTR having hit the track, the engineers at Porsche began work on a reverse engineered Prototype that, on account of the very limited GT1 production requirements, would ostensibly be able to masquerade as the kind of road-going machine that would meet the letter, if not the spirit, of the regulations.
On its debut at the 1996 Le Mans 24 Hours, the resultant 911 GT1 went on to blitz the competition and ultimately started an arms race between the likes of Mercedes-Benz, Nissan and Toyota that led to the temporary collapse of top flight GT1 racing.
Currently on offer at the Maxted-Page showroom in Halstead, Essex, is a veteran of the 1997 and ‘98 FIA GT Championship that saw an epic battle for supremacy between Porsche, McLaren and Mercedes-Benz.
Chassis 109 was originally campaigned by the Konrad Motorsport squad who used it for five 1997 races plus Le Mans Pre-Qualifying scoring best finishes of seventh at the Helsinki 3 Hours and twelfth at the Silverstone 4 Hours.
In August 1997 the car was sent back to Porsche and uprated to Evolution specification, after which it was sold to JB Racing who contested another three races scoring a best finish of ninth at the Sebring 3 Hours.
For 1998, chassis 109 was sold to Larbre Competition who ran the car at Le Mans Pre-Qualifying and in two FIA GT Championship races scoring a best finish of eighth at Dijon.
Today, chassis 109 is presented in immaculate condition having been restored to its 1997 Marlboro-backed JB Racing trim and with a conversion to road specification recently carried out by Maxted-Page.
Reprinted below is Maxted-Page’s description:
Ex-JB Racing - Marlboro / Larbre Competition - Playstation
1997 - 1998 FIA GT Championship & Le Mans 24 Hours
Production no: HEG 993 109
Engine: M96/80
Gearbox: G96/80 – 105
One of only 9 factory-built ‘customer’ 911 GT1 race cars
Upgraded at Weissach to EVO spec in 1997
Playstation / Marlboro / Giesse liveried
Fully documented ownership from new
Low hours and meticulously maintained
UK V5C / Road registered
Road conversion by Maxted-Page Ltd in 2022
Price: £POA
The 911 GT1 Evolution
Following McLaren’s outright win at the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans with the production-based F1 GTR, Porsche began to seriously rethink the future of their GT1 program. With the 911 GT2 Evos unable to compete in the GT1 class, Norbert Singer and Horst Reitter evaluated the requirements to find a workable solution.
Their conclusion was both radical and effective: build a mid-engine 911 based on the contemporary 993 and construct a limited run of street-legal production cars for homologation purposes. While recognizable as a 911, the GT1 was essentially a pure prototype, complete with a special tube-frame chassis, composite panels, sophisticated double-wishbone suspension, Brembo brakes and a water-cooled, twin turbocharged flat six.
The debut at the 1996 24 Hours of Le Mans did not disappoint. The two works entries finished 2nd and 3rd overall, with GT1-002 taking victory in the GT1 class. From there, the GT1s went on to success in the BPR series, proving that the McLaren F1s were not unbeatable.
Over the winter of 1996–1997, the Porsche racing department further developed the works GT1 for the 1997 Le Mans effort. Dubbed the GT1 Evo, the new model was a considerable improvement over the original and was immediately distinguished by its redesigned bodywork, complete with the “teardrop” headlamps which previewed the all-new generation of the (996) production 911 - unveiled in 1997.
Beneath the bodywork, the front end of the car was revised including new aero and an optimised front suspension with widened track. These measures all resulted in improved significantly improved handling and lap-times.
This car
Manufactured by Porsche Motorsport and delivered new on 24th April 1997 to Messrs. FINLIGA S.A. and run by Konrad Motorsports (Germany). The car first appeared with Konrad Motorsports in GT1-96 spec (993 headlamps) running during the first half of the 1997 World FIA GT Championship, wearing Green-Blue Giesse / Warsteiner livery:
1997 World FIA GT Championship
Le Mans Pre-qualifications
Silverstone
Helsinki
Nürburgring
Le Mans 24 hours
Spa
In August 1997, GT1-109 was one of two customer GT1 cars sent back to Weissach for Porsche Motorsport to convert to 1997 Evo specification.
Upon completion the car was sold to JB Racing (France) for the remainder of the 1997 season. JB Racing already had a lucrative Marlboro sponsorship deal for their GT1-96 chassis 101 and upgraded cars mid-season to the newly converted GT1-109 Evo, running it in Marlboro livery for the remainder 97 FIA GT season:
Mugello
Laguna Seca
Sebring 12 hr
For the 1998 season the car was then acquired by Larbre Competition (France) and re-liveried with new sponsorship from Sony Playstation. GT1-109 would go onto appear in just three times before being retired from racing:
1998 World FIA GT Championship
Dijon
Hungaroring
Le Mans pre-qualification
Ownership Provenance:
1997 Messrs. FINLIGA S.A. (Germany)
1997 JB Racing (France)
1998 Larbre Competition (France)
2005 Mr Gerry Harrison (UK)
2005 Mark Sumpter (UK)
2021 Present owner (UK)
Fully rebuilt and maintained by X-Tech Engineering between 2007 – 2020. The (M96/80) 6-cylinder 3200cc engine was rebuilt with a new crankshaft from Porsche, along with Mahle pistons, liners and titanium con rods, chains, valves, valve springs, etc – all dyno tested to 650bhp at 7,600 rpm.
GT1-109 also received a new wiring loom during the rebuild. The original TAG engine management system was kept to one side and replaced with a Motec unit. Updating the electronics to make the car more user friendly and able to access data logging more easily to keep on top of any potential problems before they occur.
A full body carbon repaint was professionally carried out by Normandale. Then, in addition to replacing all normal lifed items such as fuel bladder, harnesses and extinguisher system, several (reversable) modifications were planned and made to make the car more compliant for road use. These included :
Changing carbon race discs for steel brake discs
Fitment of Auxiliary front cooling fans
Handbrake
Softer spring and damper settings
Secondary fire extinguisher system
Live rear-view camera
Stilo Intercom for driver – passenger and telephone
Michelin Pilot Sport 275/35 ZR 18 Front and 345/35 ZR 18 Rear tyres
The car remains unraced since period, with low hours and is presented in immaculate condition with fully documented history file and provenance.
One of only nine customer GT1 race cars ever built and one of two to be converted by the factory to full 97 Evo configuration.
Eligible for entry to all the most prestigious car events in the world, as well as for racing in Endurance Racing Legends or simply driving on the road!
