Porsche 944GTR : a Porsche failure?

It could be christened : the less victorious Porsche ever built. However, it looked like it really could have been. Built in the manner Porsche always did it, even if it was the only Porsche ever to be conceived in the United States. With Porsche calendar being filled for 1986, the production car Racing in the US was getting hot, and no new GT car was lurching in the horizon. Al Holbert, then Head of Porsche Motorsport of North America, thought that it was clear that something had to get done to replace the then ageing Porsche 934s and 924s that were no more contenders for victory. He did something no one did before : he decided to create a new car. The obvious choice for that ambitious project was the 944 Turbo, and the Man Al Holbert chose to build it was Dave Klym, whose Fabcar operation has been responsible for Bob Akin's Porsche 935-84. He also already built Paul Miller's similar car and made become a winner in 1984. With Alwin Springer and Lee White hired for the project, the aesthetical result was absolutely stunning and everybody was convinced it was a sure winner. Built for running in the GTO class as well as the Trans Am series, the car had been thoroughly tested by Al Holbert's Team. The 2,5L powerplant would produce as much as 525 hp, which was enough to push the 2300 pounds car to speeds in excess of 280km/h. Ludwig Heimrath and Paul Miller would campaign such a car. 6 previous models were delivered and sold to individual race teams to compete in the SCCA Trans Am Series. The 944 GTR is the only Porsche race car with it's roots in the US. Al Holbert contracted with Dave Klym of Fabcar to build seven tube frame chassis based on the 944 ...featuring the 2.5L turbo engine. Al Hobert wanted to race the 944 in the US to boost the 944 performance image. Hence, the 944 GTR was born. The GTRs drew parts from Porsche's extensive racing parts bin incorporating parts from the 928, 935, and 956 models. They also included a Hewland racing gearbox. The technology of this 944 Turbo was based on the 924 GTR prototype whics has launched by the company in Lemans 1981. The main features of this car built in the USA are - a tube frame chassis, brakes of the Porsche 962 and the two-valve engine with compensating shafts, based on the 944 Turbo road version. The GTR has a 2.5 litre, SOHC, turbocharged engine.The aluminum liner-less block was specifically cast for the GTR. It has a 100 mm bore x 78.9 mm stroke. This engine has the later Bosch DME (Digital Motor Electronics) management system, not the Kugelfischer mechanical fuel injection. Alwin Springer, ex-head of Andial and Porsche Motorsports North America, did much of the engine development working with the Porsche factory. McLaren was also involved with the turbo development dating back to the McLaren/TAG/Porsche Turbo F1 cars of the mid 80's. The gearbox is a Hewland DGB transaxle. It comes with many spare gears, and a set up book for several North American race tracks. The GTR has new Brembo dual piston calipers all around. The Porsche comes with period documentation, a full set of body molds, two extra sets of wheels, transport wheels, a large collection of gears, engine parts, a spare torque tube, and other miscellaneous spares. Over $150,000 has been invested in the car and parts. The car was a solid, working, race car. It is not a concourse car but is a car you race this season and be proud to have under your tent in the paddock. The 944 GTR's are the fastest and most successful of Porsche's front engined racing cars. They are also very rare. Only seven were constructed. They were built under the direction of highly successful Porsche racer Al Holbert in the mid-1980's. The GTR offered here was the most successful of all of the GTR's. Another GTR was owned by Bruce Jenner, not of the Olympics fame and it's crew chief was Max Crawford. Elliot Forbes-Robinson was the driver competing in the Trans-Am Series. The 944 GTR(according to Elliot) was faster then the 935s but was underfunded and under developed, and never reached it's full potential. However this car did go on to have quite a successful history. The car needed more power, as it had been ballasted to the required 2300 pounds. Al Holbert had several Porsche test drivers test and develop this car over a couple of years. At that time Electrodyne was competing very favorable in IMSA GTO and needed a new car to remain competitive. Al Holbert agreed that Electrodyne could take this car and campaign it in GTO to enhance Porsche's image. It was driven by Chester Vincentz. The car did well but achieved some great success. It was campaigned in 1988 and 1989, with some top five finishes at stake. Al Holbert was killed in an air plane crash in the late 80's just about the time Porsche decided to cease selling the 944 family of vehicles. In all, the 944GTR was not only a case of what might have been, but an example of how difficult it was for even an experienced racing organization to produce a winner in the modern world of motorsport without the backing of a manufacturer. The little things that a factory could get the 944GTR down could not done by a single team, even a great team.

The Porsche 944GTR could have been a great racer.