Porsche 996 GT3 R

The vehicle in detail

In the 2000 FIA GT Championship, the 996 GT3R dominated the new N-GT class and won every race. In 2001, the 996 GT3 was upgraded to RS specification and in this developed form would prove capable of scoring outright wins, prevailing at the Daytona 24 Hours and Spa-Francorchamps 24 Hours races in 2003 against much more powerful prototypes. The successor model 996 GT3 RSR made its debut in 2004. Engine power was increased from 415 to 455bhp and a six-speed sequential gearbox adopted.

This Porsche GT3 RSR has competed at Daytona and Le Mans and has an impressive racing record including the British GT, FIA GT and the Porsche Open. The Porsche was supplied new to Haberthur racing in 2000 for the Daytona 24 Hours race as a 911 GT3R. It won the GT class and finished 8th overall. Haberthur also entered the Porsche in the 2000 Le Mans 24 Hours. Running 2nd in class, the Porsche left the pits and had a ‘bonnet up’ incident. Amazingly, the driver was able to drive the car back to the pits, hanging out of the door to see where he was going! (Search online for the video.)

Immediately after the race the Porsche was sold to the Jones brothers and collected from the circuit by Mike Jordan, whose company would run the car throughout much of its life. In 2005, the Jones brothers upgraded the car to RSR specification including a factory RSR body, suspension system, wheels and brakes. The Porsche was also converted to right-hand drive shortly after Le Mans and homologated, and retained the original chassis number. All the rebuilding work was carried out by Eurotech/Mike Jordan.

In 2007 the car was sold to Gerry Harrison, passing to the current vendor’s private collection in 2009. The 3.8-Litre engine was rebuilt in 2024, as was the transmission, and since then the engine has been run up in the garage only. The Porsche has also been repainted in its Le Mans 2000 livery.