Le Mans GT1 prototypes ('96-'99)

[kober]

I tried to create a full list of "GT1 prototypes" (i.e. grand tourers of which road version was built only to meet the homologation criteria), that competed in Le Mans 24h, and came with the following:

1996
Porsche 911 GT1 (2nd, 3rd)
1997
Porsche 911 GT1 (5th, 8th, DNF, DNF, DNF, DNF, DNF, DNF)
Nissan R390 GT1 (12th, DNF, DNF)
Panoz Esperante GTR-1 (DNF, DNF, DNF)
Lotus Elise GT1 (DNF)
1998
Porsche 911 GT1-98 (1st, 2nd)
Nissan R390 GT1 (3rd, 5th, 6th, 10th)
Panoz Esperante GTR-1 (7th, DNF)
Toyota GT-One (9th, DNF, DNF, DNF)
Mercedes-Benz CLK-LM (DNF, DNF)
1999*
Toyota GT-One (2nd, DNF, DNF)
Mercedes-Benz CLR (DNF, DNF, DNS)

*Before '99 the GT1 category was replaced by LMGTP and there was no requirements for homologated road cars any more. Hence Audi R8C and Bentleys, the only other prototypes raced in the category, never had a road-legal version.

Didin't include Dauer 962s, since they were race version of an existing road-legal car.

Didn't include Lister either, because the company was actually trying to make money by selling their cars.

I'm wondering if the list is full and complete

[Bob Riebe]

Originally Posted by kober

Didn't include Lister either, because the company was actually trying to make money by selling their cars.

I'm wondering if the list is full and complete

Making money is the name of the game.

If you are going to exclude for personal reasons, the list will never be full.

[JBT]

Did Lister actually make any money from the road going Storm GTL/GTS/GT? They only made four if I remember. They should definately be in this list

[matherto]

Would be nice to try and trace some of the cars.

How hard that would be is another matter...

I know there have been two different GT1's for sale recently (The Kremer car from Daytona 1997) and the Blue Coral British GT car. Dunno about the rest of them though.

[Ferrari333SP]

The 1999 Toyota GT1 is still one of the most beautiful looking sportscars ever made/designed I think.

[Bob Riebe]

Originally Posted by Ferrari333SP

The 1999 Toyota GT1 is still one of the most beautiful looking sportscars ever made/designed I think.

I seriously hope you are being facetious and sarcastic.

[Ferrari333SP]

Originally Posted by Bob Riebe

I seriously hope you are being facetious and sarcastic.

No, I really do love the design of this car. I really like the color scheme, and to me, the design screams "fast", meant to destroy any competitors on the track. I even got a model of the car in my bedroom.

Makes me think of the Gulf color scheme that's been used over and over throughout the years. I find that it's a decent design, classic for sure, but from a design standpoint, it's not that appealing. The red and white colors used on the Toyota offer a really appealing contrast to each other, providing a really pleasant car to look at. As for the aero, I think the lines flow really well, and like I said, it just looks really fast, even standing still.

I'm familiar/have seen pics of practically all sportscars that have raced at LeMans for the past couple of decades, and nothing has been an almost complete package like this Toyota GT1.

From a design/pure visual standpoint, I absolutely love this car.

IMO.

[johntt]

Originally Posted by Ferrari333SP

No, I really do love the design of this car. I really like the color scheme, and to me, the design screams "fast", meant to destroy any competitors on the track. I even got a model of the car in my bedroom.

Makes me think of the Gulf color scheme that's been used over and over throughout the years. I find that it's a decent design, classic for sure, but from a design standpoint, it's not that appealing. The red and white colors used on the Toyota offer a really appealing contrast to each other, providing a really pleasant car to look at. As for the aero, I think the lines flow really well, and like I said, it just looks really fast, even standing still.

I'm familiar/have seen pics of practically all sportscars that have raced at LeMans for the past couple of decades, and nothing has been an almost complete package like this Toyota GT1.

From a design/pure visual standpoint, I absolutely love this car.

IMO.

Couldn't agree more

For all its Lufthansa tendencies the Mercedes CLR was a beautiful thing as well:

[Carsandmotorracing]

The Merc was far better looking than the Toyota GT1 IMO

[Bob Riebe]

They are both better than the Grand-Am ungainly DP cars, or the current ACO diesels that look like cockroaches, but that is about all the advantage they have in the looks department.

[Nortad]

Dont forget the McLaren F1 Longtail GTR

Despite being based on the McLaren F1, only one was made with that body work, if im not mistaken, for homologation for the GT1 category.

[Nick6]

The first 911 GT1 (pre evo) was always my favorite.

[matherto]

Originally Posted by Nortad

Dont forget the McLaren F1 Longtail GTR

Despite being based on the McLaren F1, only one was made with that body work, if im not mistaken, for homologation for the GT1 category.

Three.

McLaren still have the prototype

One is in Japan in the ZAZ collection.

One is stuck in the Brunei collection.