996 GT3 1999-2004
In 1995 Porsche decided to concentrate its racing efforts on the GT3 class. This would be less expensive than continuing to pursue GT2 where the 600bhp 993 GT2 Evo had reached the end its development possibilities in the face of new generations of mid-engine competitors; a lower cost GT3 would also open the door to a wider range of potential clients. Design work for the new competition versions was underway by the time the 996 was launched in 1997 and Porsche Motorsport’s workshop at Flacht (at the southern end of the Weissach site) would build the 996 GT3 R and the Carrera Cup GT3 models in time for the 1998 and 1999 seasons. Under the auspices of Roland Kussmaul, a homologation GT3, like the 964 RS and 993RS before it, was planned. Production space at Zuffenhausen allowed 1858 road-going GT3s to be built during summer 1999. A further batch of 3400 GT3s including 682 RS versions was made during 2003-4. These featured changes to the body such as the 996 phase 2 headlights and engine upgrades.
DEVELOPMENT AND EVOLUTION
The GT3 used the 4cm wider body of the turbo and Carrera 4 which
