Porsche to Build Second Batch of GTE Customer Cars

Photo: Olivier Beroud Images

Porsche will build a second batch of customer 911 RSRs for a further expansion of its customer base, according to Head of Motorsport Dr. Frank-Steffen Walliser.

The German manufacturer, which made available eight of the mid-engined GTE machines this year, has confirmed plans to produce up to five additional cars for 2019, including at least one earmarked for Asia.

“We will make another batch of cars,” Walliser told Sportscar365. “We’re considering another five. This is on the way and it looks good.”

Four of the current customer cars are being campaigned by Proton Competition, either in the FIA World Endurance Championship or European Le Mans Series, with two having gone to Gulf Racing and one apiece to Team Project 1 and Ebimotors.

Walliser said high demand for the car, which is also now eligible in the Asian Le Mans Series, has prompted the additional allocations.

While not confirming details, he indicated the new customers are all European or Asian-based.

“The majority of the deals are done; we can’t publish it yet,” Walliser said. “[The announcement] will come in the summer.”

Walliser admitted the GTE contender would unlikely ever race in customer’s hands in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, at least on a full-season basis, due to the level of factory competition in the GT Le Mans class.

Porsche Prepared for Le Mans GTE-Am Effort 

A total of six customer Porsches, meanwhile, are set for next weekend’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, which when combined with the four factory GTE-Pro entries, represents its largest GT effort in the race since 2004.

Walliser said a comprehensive support program has been put in place, featuring a dedicated staff of Porsche engineers allocated to each car and a central base that sees the coordination of the manufacturer’s engineering and spare parts support.

“You can find the [ex] LMP1 guys supporting the customers there,” he said. “From that side, for all the customer teams, it’s proper support so they can make the best out of the car.

“We’ve seen in the results. The first race, with everything new, there were some minor problems. But in general, the performance and everything had been there. Our customers are happy.

“It’s a complex car, but for this, it works pretty well.”

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John