2002 PORSCHE 911 (996) GT3-RS

model history

The 996 GT3 series of race cars was introduced by Porsche with 3 prototype cars in 1999, immediately securing a 1-2 class finish at the Le Mans 24 Hours race. Sixty-four GT3 R GT2-class cars were built in 2000, followed by the introduction of the GT3 RS for the 2001 season.

The cars were immediately successful, winning the class at the Le Mans 24 Hours every year from 1999 until they were superseded by the 997 GT3 RSR in 2006.  Extraordinarily, the cars also won several major races outright, including the Daytona 24 Hours in 2003 as well as the Spa 24 Hours, beating the Ferrari 550, Chrysler Viper and Saleen cars in the faster GT class.

The 996 GT3 RS was the last to feature a traditional H-pattern gearbox, with the RSR the first to feature a sequential shift mechanism on the gearbox. The GT3 RS offered a substantial upgrade over the already successful GT3 R, with a new intake manifold, larger valves and upgraded camshafts, providing 430 bhp at 8,500 rpm when breathing through the 43mm FIA air restrictor.

Just 49 996 GT3 RS cars were built in 2002, with factory support (and the advantage of special parts, engineers and drivers) conferred upon special teams at the time, such as Freisinger Motorsport, Manthey Racing, Flying Lizards Racing and The Racers Group.

this car

Starting in 1992, The Racers Group initially focused on running team owner Kevin Buckler in national level club events, with a first international debut at the 1995 IMSA Grand Prix of California.

The team took a significant step forward in 2002, taking on Factory support to win the GT class of the Daytona 24 Hours with a 996 GT3 RS. A fresh car was immediately ordered for that year’s Le Mans 24 Hours and that is this car, known as chassis “109”.

The car arrived in time for the Test Weekend, run, as usual at that time, six weeks ahead of the main race weekend. The car ran that weekend in a basic white livery with stickers.

For the race weekend, it was a dream debut for team, team owner and car.  The car was on pole position by nearly 2 seconds, with a 4.10 laptime, an impressive feat.  Adding to the pressure, team owner Buckler was a genuine gentleman driver, in the rich tradition of sports car racing, supported by two top flight factory drivers but racing against a hugely well-established team in Freisinger Motorsport with not 2 but 3 pro drivers from the Factory roster: Bergmeister, Dumas and Maasen.

As it was, the race went entirely to plan, with the TRG 996 car finishing just 1 lap ahead of the Freisinger car, albeit having set a class fastest lap of over 1 second quicker, a clean sweep of palmares.

Buckler’s success in 2002 took him to the much-coveted title of 2002 Porsche World Cup Champion, a well-deserved result after this incredible season with the cars.

109 returned to the TRG stable and served fully another two seasons of racing, bowing out after the 2004 Sebring 12 Hours race, having finished both that race and the Daytona 24 Hours that year with gentleman racers onboard. Notably, the car also took American Le Mans Series class wins at Mid-Ohio and Mosport Park in 2003.

The car was sold in 2005 directly from The Racers Group to an Australian Porsche enthusiast, who remains the current owner. The car has been used sparingly since, winning a few club races, and kept in exceptional condition and is now available for purchase now, along with a considerable quantity of spares, including a completely unused spare engine, bodywork, wheels and sundry components.