Race Car: Porsche 911 GT1 ’98 (1998)

For the 1998 season, Porsche unveiled the third generation of the Porsche 911 GT1 race car. It was the first sports car built by Porsche to feature a carbon-fibre chassis.

Porsche 911 GT1 ’98

On 23 February 1998, Bob Wollek took the new GT1 ´98 for its first drive in Weissach. Compared to the 1997 version, the GT1 ´98 is 20 centimeters (4,890 mm) longer and five centimetres (1,990 metres) wider. The height is lowered by three centimetres to 1,140 mm. The 100-litre fuel tank is centrally located between the drivers‘ compartment and engine.

The Porsche 911 GT1 ´98 is the first sportscar from Porsche to feature a carbon fibre chassis as a monocoque. It reduced the weight by 100 kgs to 950 kilograms. More rigidity and the possibility of an optimized aerodynamic layout were further advantages of the new material.

The engine block and cylinder heads of the six-cylinder engine are made of aluminium. With two KKK turbo-chargers and 33.9 mm air restrictors, the 3.2-litre power unit delivers about 550 hp at 7,200 rpm. The power is transmitted to the rear axle via a sequential six-speed gearbox. The suspension features a double wishbones front and rear. The braking power is delivered by 380 mm carbon fibre brake discs, with eight piston brake calipers at the front and six at the rear.

The 911 GT1 took one-two victory in Le Mans in 1998. Drivers Allan McNish, Laurent Aiello and Stéphane Ortelli took the first place and Uwe Alzen, Bob Wollek and Jörg Müller fineshed second.

Porsche 911 GT1 (1998) Technical Specifications

• Engine: 6-cylinder boxer, water-cooled, aluminium engine block and cylinder heads, 2 intake and 2 discharge valves per cylinder, 2 exhaust gas turbo chargers with air restrictors, 2 charce air intercoolers, dry sump lubrication, electronic engine management (TAG 3.8), fuel injection with Lambda control, cylinder selective knock control
• Displacement: 3.220 cm³
• Power: Approx. 400 kW (550 hp) at 7,200 rpm
• Fuel system: 100-litre FT3 safety tank with integrated catchtank, rapid tank valve and reserve switch
• Transmission: 6-speed gearbox, sequential gear change, rear wheel drive, triple disc clutch, additional lubrication with oil pump and oil-to-water heat exchanger, self-locking differential
• Chassis: Carbon fibre monocoque, adjustable plastic rear wing, air inlet to turbo chargers on the roof, rollcage as supporting chassis member, air jack, double wishbones with pushrod front and rear, Bilstein shock absorbers front and rear, brakes, balance adjustable by driver, carbon brake discs front and rear
• Length: 4,890 mm
• Width: 1,990 mm
• Weight: 950 kg
• Top speed: about 310 km/h (193 mph)

Check also
Porsche 911 GT1 (1996)
Porsche 911 GT1 Evo (1997)

Images by Porsche