Does Porsche need factory supported racing?

[s_wilwerding]

I enjoyed watching the Racers Group Porsche upset the entire field yesterday at the Daytona 24. It got me to thinking about Porsche racing and factory support. The first thing that came to mind was that, even if Porsche had factory support of the GT3, they would not likely be able to beat the record of The Racers Group, who have won the last 3 24 hour races they've entered.

If you looked at the field at Daytona, it was dominated by Porsches. There were many GT3s, a couple Porsche Fabcars, and even a 996 (!). Obviously, private teams, who can openly choose which car to drive, have decided that Porsches win races. With the success of these privateers, why does Porsche need factory supported racing?

Now that I've made my point, I'll argue the other side. Most people would say that Porsche needs to contest the overall win at Le Mans. This, obviously, requires factory support. Many also feel that Porsche needs to expand beyond the GT class at races, again requiring factory support. There are also many people that believe Porsche should be building at least some pure race cars, a la the 908, 917, 956, etc.

So, there are arguments on both sides of the issue. One point I would make, though, is that even without factory support, Porsches are still winning races and keeping the Porsche mystique alive. Does your average Joe know or care about the fact that private entrants, rather than Porsche itself, is winning? I think not.

[wit61]

Factory racing is a very expensive undertaking. I personally don't think that Porsche will sell many more cars because of it (particularly if they don't win/dominate), so there is much more cost effective advertising out there. They obviously are doing quite well in engineering products without the direct R&D that factory racing brings.

In summary, what is there to gain other than emotionally pleasing a large number of people like me ?

[addictionMS]

The Racers Group is factory supported at Daytona, check out the drivers list....

Jim

[NapTownSpeedy]

Steve,
I also thoroughly enjoyed watching the Racers Group team show what a competant team and car they have. When SpeedTV broke away for the night I was very excited. David Donohue and Hurley Haywood, both which I have worked with, were doing well in the new DP class with Porsche power. When coverage started again, I was torn. The new cars were obviously finished or just lapping… but there was a GT3 at the front.

As the non-factory effort goes, the state of racing right now makes the privateers very competitive. I have talked to some team owners about their car purchase decision. If you have to buy a machine and make it a racecar, the GT3 already has all of the development work done and it’s proven. Not a bad chocie. And if you look at the Ferrari 360GT efforts, all of them had nagging problems of some sort. Most of the GT3’s continued to motor around with accidents hurting more than anything.

I too would love to see a full on factory effort. Did you see how much Porsche spent on advertising for this thing. The “Pepperwagon” and Boxster commercials were on at every break. Plus they sponsored the running order ticker. I hope that this pays off and these two models can replenish the company coffers. This could really open the door for a factory car.

Plus I have heard it said that the brass is concerned that sports car racing is really just VW(Audi) and one or two others beating each other up. Plus a competent F1 effort would be spectactular. Oh well, at least a Porsche took the overall, and it is one that a customer can actually buy.

PS- A GT3 had a radiator leak during Sunday morning. David Hobbs stated that even as strong as a Porsche is, even it could run without water. Kinda made me sick to hear that while looking at the engine bay of a 911 derivitave.

[724doorE]

And, although you can say it is not factory support, a team is able to buy over the counter from Porsche far more racing parts and equipment than probably any other maker( If someone can straighten me out on that one, thats more new knowledge for me!) Also, remember that the factory pulls tubs off the line to make the GT-3 RS's unlike any other maker as well. I'm pretty sure they are closer to a production car than anything else out there on the track. Says a great deal about the cars and the company.

I suspect you will be more likely to see things like cougar-Porsches and the like over in Europe with teams like Joest with a little indirect factory backing. It has been thatway for a long time and will probably still be that way in the future.

As much as we dismiss the factories seeming lack of racing interest, They have almost half of the overall wins at Daytona and won yesterday with a very production based racecar with 3.6 litters of normal aspiration. They have with the same cars outduked BMW in the last several years and seem to have the upper hand against Ferrari now. Oh and notice this year none of the GTS cars finished well.

Wish I were there again, its been a while.

Back to work

[Plavan]

The Racers Group has been factory supported. They get all the great stuff...the great factory drivers... The real test is when Porsche starts racing again (Hopefully soon) and takes their drivers and some support away from the Racers Group. That will show how really good the Racers group is. The Racers Group could not....repeat...could not of done as good as they have been doing without factory support.
I enjoyed the race. Good to see Porsche up front. I wonder how long before we see bits & pieces of the crashed Racer Group cars on their website for sale?

[tchanson]

Originally posted by s_wilwerding
The first thing that came to mind was that, even if Porsche had factory support of the GT3, they would not likely be able to beat the record of The Racers Group

As Jim noted, I think that it would come as news to the other GT3R teams that The Racer's Group does not have factory support, (and not limited to the services of Herrs Bernhard and Bergmeister)

Additionally, with all due respect, I would argue that Porsche outlegislated, instead of out ran, the (slightly rule bending) M3's. I think the Ferrari's, which are more of a true privateer effort, will become a real challenge this year.

Tim

[jyl]

I don't think victories at Daytona and similar can sustain the Porsche identity indefinitely. Eventually Porsche has to return (successfully) to racing that has a global following and is perceived as being top-level. F1, LeMans, WRC, something like that.

[724doorE]

Global victories,.... where are most of their cars sold???? and what other type of racing could they win at in that country?

Outright victories are self sustaining, as long as they continue and they have...

[jyl]

I suspect that the average American who makes >$200K a year, works in finance, law, medicine, business, etc and buys expensive European sports cars -- i.e. who Porsche sells most of their cars to -- notices who won LeMans and F1 much more than who won Daytona.

There's got to be a reason why the major European auto companies, with all their marketing research, have poured the bulk of their racing resources into LeMans and F1 :-)

Come to think of it, now that Porsche sells a front-engined, V-8, four-door -- can they compete in NASCAR?

[724doorE]

HAHAHA yea in the Nastycar truck series if you cut the top off of one of those unsafe C-ships

Oh you don't need 200k a year to own a Porsche, you need that to get it serviced!!