For Sale: 1997 Porsche 911 GT1 Evolution
Images by Tim Scott thanks to RM Sotheby’s
This 600 bhp 1997 Porsche 911 GT1 Evolution is a three-time Canadian GT Championship winner and has raced in events like the Daytona 24 Hours. And these days, it’s road legal.
It will head to auction in just over a week at RM Sotheby’s’ Monaco sale.
In 7 years of competition, customer 911 GT1s would win 47 races from 144 starts. One of these customers was Bytzek Motorsports out of Toronto in Canada, who acquired three GT1-96 chassis which they raced under Litens Industries sponsorship.
When one of those chassis was damaged while racing, they bought the car we’re looking at today, GT1 993-117, as a bare tub direct from Porsche Motorsports North America. The drivetrain and suspension from the damaged car was installed into the tub along with additional parts, including an Evo upgrade package, purchased through Porsche. This makes it the only ’97 Evo that was sold new by the Porsche factory.
The car raced extensively and would go on to become one of the most successful GT1s ever raced, piling up some 13 wins in its period career along with a collection of podiums. With it, Bytzek would claim the Canadian GT Championship three years on the trot from 1999 to 2001.
Bytzek entered it in the 2001 Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona with Klaus Bytzek, Scott Maxwell, David Empringham and Richard Spenard driving. They qualified a respectable 12th, remember we’re now five years on from the introduction of the GT1 in 1996, but would finish 41st after replacing a transaxle late in the race.
2015 saw a full restoration of the car completed by Lanzante Motorsports in the United Kingdom, which came in at a cracking £300,000. It was shown at the 2015 Goodwood Festival of Speed alongside the 919 Hybrid that won at Le Mans that year.
This hugely successful, quick and immaculate car would be welcome at almost any historic event you can think of. And with its UK road registration, it’s usable off the track as well!
It’s sold with a full file of factory documentation and manuals as well as information about the restoration and photographs of the project.
RM Sotheby’s’ Monaco sale marks the first time that the car will be offered for public sale. For more information, head to their website here.
Images by Tim Scott thanks to RM Sotheby’s
