Porsche and Motorsports?

Pauli33 · 07-25-2002, 07:03 AM

I've loved porsches all my life, but only recently have i started watching motorsports and racing so please forgive my ignorance...

I find it so odd that a company with such a proud history in motorsports is virtually unrepresented in racing today. Is there any clear cut answer to what happened? It seems that the 996 is still active in the Lemans Series, but am I right in assuming these are mostly privateers and not actively supported or involved with Porsche? What happened to make Porsche withdraw from the motorsports scene, especially since they had such a rich racing heritage?

I'm sure this is bound to bring up some strong and fiery opinions, but I had to ask...

-Paul

cegerer · cegerer's Garage

Some, like me, like to live in a fantasy world and believe the rumor that Audi's R8 started life in the Porsche engineering department. Without that to cling to, it's a bit bleak right now. -- Curt

James Bond · 07-25-2002, 08:45 AM

I wish we could go back to how it used to be. I am quite young, and was not alive during the "glory" days of Porsche racing. However, I've read as much as possible on Porsche history, as well as it's racing history. I have a deep respect for how things used to be, though I am very disappointed as for how things currently are. I don't know everyone's story that is in management at Porsche but, I hope they change their ways because I think a little of the charisma/character that IS Porsche has been lost. I'd really love to seem them seriously re-enter the professional racing scene and start dominating again. I guess, for now, I'll live in the past.

DavidPorter · 07-25-2002, 09:04 AM

Can you spell CAYENNE?

racemor · 07-25-2002, 09:16 AM

The answer to that question is long and has changed a lot over the past few years. Some say it was the political issues of the split in American sports car racing. Porsche chose to run the GT1-98 in the FIA series in 1998 with a one-off at Road Atlanta's Petite LeMans for 1998 and was thrashed by Mercedes. There was a prototype built for LeMans in 1999 but it was never entered. Then they said they were diverting race engineers and funding to the Cayenne (sp?) project. Boy, that lit off some frustrations among Porsche race fans. Now? Who knows. There is still some factory support for privately entered 996s in the GT class. It gets obvious which teams are getting the support when you see the two Alex Job cars and the Racers Group car pull away from the rest of the GT cars like they did at the DC race.

Rumor was that the new Carrera GT was going to run in GTS. Now according to Michael Cotton that project is off. I feel like we will see something new in 2004. At least that is the current rummor.

Tom

cegerer · cegerer's Garage

Of course there is the 'Daytona Prototype' car debuting next year. It appears to be very much a 'spec racer' (similar in concept to an IRL car) and maybe that's why I'm having a tough time getting excited about it?? -- Curt

http://www.brumosporsche.com/whats_new/prototype/prototype.html

john_colasante · 07-25-2002, 10:02 AM

There is Porsche Supercup and Porsche Carrera Cup, so it's not exactly all over yet.

DavidPorter · 07-25-2002, 10:45 AM

Well, Grand Am (Daytona Prototype class) is after all the invention of those masters of the spec racer - NASCAR.

A quick look at their SRP team list reveals such household names as Crawford-Judd, Dallara-Judd, Lola-Judd, and Norma as well as a few Riley & Scotts (Ford or Chevy or Judd power), although a Lola-Porsche did finish 4th at Daytona.

07-25-2002, 05:43 PM

In the June 911 & Porsche World, Michael Cotton writes that the ACO is likely going to allow the use of carbon-composite monocoques in the GTS category. This would allow Porsche to enter the Carrera GT, which could possibly be pitted up against the Ferrari F60 and other really kooky stuff.

That would be cool...

07-25-2002, 05:47 PM

Racemor,

I just read the last bit of your post. Maybe I should get the July issue?

Doug E · 07-25-2002, 06:35 PM

If you ever need a quick fix go to a vintage race and you will get a chance to see 917's, 906's, 904's, 908's, 935's etc. on the track and up close in the pits.

This is how I re-live the glory days ...

racemor · 07-26-2002, 06:56 AM

robh, Mr. Cotton's article is in the latest Panorama. I noticed that there is also a thread about this on IMSA's bbs.

http://www.professionalsportscar.com/dcforum/DCForumID1/853.html

I wish they would do the Carrera, maybe there will be a private entrant for the car such as Rafanelli entering the Maranello in ALMS races.
Tom