One-off Porsche 911 GT1 Evolution Auctioned For $3.14 Million

This weekend saw yet another batch of gorgeous classic cars cross the auction block at RM Sotheby’s Monaco sale. The most expensive model to find a new owner was a 1951 Ferrari 340 America Barchetta by Touring, which fetched a whopping €7.28 million (about $8.25 million,) but the sale also included a very rare Porsche 911 GT1 Evolution, which went under the hammer for €2.77 million (around $3.14 million).

Although relatively new compared to other million-dollar race cars, the GT1 has become rather expensive lately. The reason for that is that Porsche built only 41 examples, of which 18 were racers and 23 were street cars, but this particular model is a lot more special than the others. Specifically, it’s the only race-spec 911 GT1 that can be driven on public roads. It might not sound like much given that Porsche has also developed road-legal GT1’s, but this car has certain features you don’t see on the Strassenversion. The wing and the diffuser are different, while the front fenders are louvered, among other details. More importantly, you don’t get to go to the mall in a car that has seen more than four years of track action and won 13 races.

Another feat that makes this GT1 special is the fact that it is the only 1997 Evo sold new by the factory. It was purchased through Porsche Motorsports North America by Bytzek Motorsports in 1997, replacing one of the 1996 chassis models that was damaged. Raced until 2002, it captured the Canadian GT Championship between 1999 and 2001 and several other wins at Mosport (now the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park), Byztek’s home track. The car was fully restored in 2014 and 2015 by Lanzante Motorsports in the United Kingdom for more than £300,000 and was showcased at the 2015 Goodwood Festival of Speed alongside the Porsche 919 Hybrid.

It also worth noting that it was a GT1 that scored Porsche’s last win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans before the 919’s victory in 2015. There’s no information as to who purchased the car, but the new owner will also get a comprehensive file of restoration invoices and photographs, an extensive store of spare parts, and access to historic racing events such as the GT90s Series, the Daytona Classic, and the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Continue reading for the full story.

---

from Top Speed http://ift.tt/1Yx3yq9
via IFTTT