In 1995, Porsche was away from GT1 category. That's when the McLaren F1 carried off all the victory in endurance races and above all, the prestigious 24H of LeMans. That was a fabulous challenge throwed to Porsche. Indeed, GT competition has always been the favorite field of Porsches. The Porsche's team was really excited and just leaving LeMans, they already have in mind what would be the Porsche 911 GT1.

As soon as credits were released, it was very quick. In 4 months, the developpment team has finalized technical studies and 5 months weren't de trop to work on the basis prototype. In March 1996, JŸrgen Barth was the first to drive the GT1, in Estoril (Weissach wasn't enough for this kind of supercar !). Unfortunately, road tests finished on the rail, injuring the car...

Other tests took place at the circuit of Le Castellet on Avril,15th just before preliminary tests of Le MANS (28th). Bob Wollek, Hans Stuck and Yannick Dalmas tested the car which showed some problems with the gearbox. For the two last pilots, command was imprecise, gear ratios were too close from the other ones. Precisely, the test ended on Wesnesday,18 th when a problem of transmission appeared. Those road tests were succinct, the car spending more time at her stand than on the pist.For those tests, the GT1 received a full carbone skin. The preliminary LeMans tests were good. As a matter of fact, only a McLaren turned faster (7/10e). Really good for a first departure. On the circuit, the transmission was the only important problem met. Pilots also noticed a lack of stability on bumps. This was also the moment to discover the road version which one was equiped like a 993RS : same lightweight interior and 3.8L -300hp- engine ! This can be explained by the fact that Porsche wasn't sure to build a road version of the GT1, for the sake of the price of the project. So, they build a prototype using existing elements.

Now, we are sure that the GT1 road version is ready and her engine is derivated from the racing one. Later, the GT1 prototype was back to Le Castellet for a 24h race simulation. First attempt was aborted (the gearbox, again...) but the second was the right and no problems were encountered. Pretty good ! The two cars (25 & 26) were again in carbone suit but the Porsche team announced that they will be at Mobil's colours for the event in June. But the rendez-vous for Porsche and all fans was of course the LeMans 24h.You know what follows : the two Porsche GT1 2nd & 3rd at general but First in GT category ! the fisrt at the general was a TWR barquette. Here it is interesting to tell the story of this car. As a matter of fact, at the beginning of the year 1995, Porsche announced his official return to competition in the new american Imsa championship where barquettes are authorized. Porsche saw the opportunity to win at the USA and , why not, to win LeMans.

The idea of a replacement of the old (but so performant) 962 was in their mind since a long time but in less than one year, aprototype was impossible to realize. By a pure hazard, Tom Walkinshaw was selling chassis of the Jaguar XJ14 he has made made (some of them were also sold to Mazda). Porsche AG didn't reflect much time about it and they quickly designed a new body around and they fitted up the watercooled Flat 6 3.0L twin turbos of the 962 in with some improvements. After road tests, they announced their coming to Daytona. Unfortunately, a cup of weeks before the race, the Imsa changed rules, which ones penalized turbocharged engines, to favorite american cars. Porsche was really angry and just leave the championship with her WSC.