2002 Porsche 911 Type 996 GT3 RS Competition Coupé

• Genuine factory-built GT3 RS
• Delivered new to Orbit Racing in the USA
• Considerable in-period race history (fully documented)
• Restored by Orbit Racing in 2017
• Eligible for Endurance Racing Legends, Masters Endurance Legends, Rennsport Reunion, Le Mans Classic

Intended primarily for racing, though still road legal, the Porsche 911 GT3 - first introduced in 1999 - can trace its ancestry all the way back through a succession of high-performance models to the legendary 911 Carrera RS of 1973. The car takes its name from the FIA's GT3 category of production sports car racing, and has been produced in a variety of versions since its introduction in 1999 on the Type 996 iteration of the perennial 911, the 996 being the first to have a water-cooled engine.

Following the launch of the original Type 996 GT3, Porsche introduced an out-and-out racing version: the GT3 R, which made it track debut at Le Mans in 1999, winning its class. The GT3 R would go on to dominate its class in the American Le Mans Series for the next couple of years and proved equally successful in the FIA GT Championship. In 2000 a GT3 R entered by the factory supported Phoenix Racing won the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring.

The concept's next development, the GT3 RS, arrived in 2001. Standing for RennSport (literally 'race sport') the 'RS' designation referenced that iconic first-of-the-line model of 40 years previously. In GT3 RS specification, the 3.6-litre flat-six 'Metzger' engine was up-rated, producing around 400bhp, although the claimed output remained unchanged at 318bhp for homologation purposes. The RS was lighter than the 'ordinary' GT3; weight saving measures included a polycarbonate rear window, and carbon-fibre bonnet and rear wing, while the stock cast-iron brake discs were replaced with ceramic composite rotors for greater fade resistance under competition conditions. RS suspension was adjustable, and the car ran some 3mm lower than the stock GT3.

The GT3 RS not only continued to dominate its class but also proved capable of scoring outright victories against more powerful prototypes; standout results being overall wins in the Daytona 24-hour and Spa-Francorchamps 24-hour races in 2003. The successor RSR arrived for 2004. The GT3 R/RS/RSR race cars were the first internationally homologated GT3 race cars (only the LMP prototypes ranked above them). They were highly successful top-flight race cars that raced in what would become the GT2 category at Le Mans.

The Porsche Certificate of Origin on file confirms that chassis number 'WP0ZZZ99Z2S692066' is a genuine 2002 GT3 RS delivered new to the USA-based Orbit Racing and built to ACO specification. This car made its competition debut at the 2002 Sebring 12 hours and Daytona Finale 3 Hours, and was also a reserve entry for the Le Mans 24 Hours that same year. In 2003 it took part in the prestigious 24 Hours of Daytona, finishing 2nd in the GT class before ending its frontline career at the Barber 250 miles.

Immediately after the Barber race the RS was sold to Fort Lauderdale-based dentist the late Robert (Bob) Mack. Mike Calucci ran the Porsche for Bob in several local SCCA and PCA meetings before he moved to North Carolina. During this period Phil Pierce converted the suspension to 2005 RSR specification. Sadly, Bob Mack passed away and in 2013 the car was sold via MGM Motorsport. The new Florida-based collector/owner commissioned the original owners Orbit Racing to restore the RS, which included having the engine rebuilt by Porsche Motorsport North America. In 2017 the RS was purchased and imported into the UK to join a collection of historic competition cars.

We are advised this Type 996 GT3 RS remains in excellent condition having not been raced since restoration. It benefits from a recent new battery and has been run up, running excellently and displaying good oil pressure. It is presented in the dramatic yellow, black and white vinyl-wrapped livery of sponsors Yes Network dating from its appearance at the 2003 24 Hours of Daytona. The car comes with a substantial file detailing its entire history of race results together with numerous period photographs of it in action at Le Mans, Daytona and Sebring. Its full competition history is on file. Eligible for Endurance Racing Legends, Masters Endurance Legends, Rennsport Reunion and Le Mans Classic, it represents a rare opportunity to own one of these very special Porsche GT racers.