GOOD SPORT

While most car makers cut their motorsport budgets when times are lean, Porsche is a little different. When it decided to co-develop the 996-generation 911 with the 986 Boxster and reinvent its manufacturing process to be far more efficient (at a time Porsche’s coffers were looking decidedly empty), for example, the company’s motorsport division was thriving. Moreover, it was actively contributing to the brand’s bottom line. In fact, decisions made in the interests of furthering Porsche’s motorsport development programme even before the 996 entered production resulted in some of the most highly regarded and sought-after variants of the 911 yet, including the 996 GT2 and the first-ever roadgoing 911 GT3.

Porsche sent a subtle warning shot across the bow of its competitors when it unveiled the 1998 911 Supercup car just a few weeks after the showroom-bound 996 Carrera made its debut at the 1997 Frankfurt Motor Show. Since 1993, Porsche Supercup has been a support series to Formula One, kicking off with the 964-based 911 Cup and then the 993-generation 911 Cup 3.8. For 1998, the 996 would sire the GT3 Cup racer, but this mighty track attacker wasn’t powered by the same