Modern GT1 supercar is the greatest Porsche-based restomod to date
And you might be surprised to hear that such a car comes out of Oxfordshire, not Los Angeles.
TUTHILL PORSCHE
In the world of Motorsport numerics, lesser often suggests greater. This methodology explains why Formula 1 is considered the pinnacle of motorsport, whereas Formula 2 and 3 sit below in the hierarchy. LMP1 cars are a tier above the LMP2 cars in performance and budget. Yet, there has long been a void in the GT classes. Primarily, GT3 is the current top of the crop, dethroning GT2 a couple of years ago. So, where is GT's "1"? You'd have to look far back into the archives to discover that the FIA first introduced a GT1 class for Le Mans in 1993. The regulations mandated a small number of road-going cars for homologation. Hence transpired the infamous trio of the McLaren F1 GTR, Porsche 911 GT1, and the Mercedes CLK GTR.
TUTHILL PORSCHE
While the cars were incredible, the huge cost involved did not serve to be appealing for manufacturers. The series continued on for nearly 20 more years before coming to an inevitable end after 2012. Although GT1 racing concluded inauspiciously, it is unforgotten in the hearts of car enthusiasts for birthing three of the most incredible road cars the world has ever seen. However, as the focus was primarily on racing, the road cars that resulted were rather…compromised. It only begs the question. What if a GT1 car was genuinely created for the road? And what if it was created today?
TUTHILL PORSCHE
Such questions comprised the conversations between Richard Tuthill and his client and filmaker Elliot Ross. The idea of a modern GT1 road car must have been a tremendously enticing prospect: it would have to be as beautiful and capable as the original GT1, yet satisfy even the FIA with its crash safety and simultaneously be permitted to drive on public roads. These discussions culminated in what we see in front of us as the Tuthill Porsche GT ONE - a glorious homage to 1990's Le Mans racing. This is the car that spurred the internet prior to the Quail, when it was spotted being unloaded off a plane at the Los Angeles International Airport. Within a glance at the spy footage, many believed it to be a special GT1-inspired creation by Porsche itself. While it may appear like Porsche's work to the untrained eye, Tuthill did intend to follow Porsche's approach to create a road-going GT1 car. As Richard Tuthill puts it best: "The FIA GT1 class enabled manufacturers to create stunning race cars. We have taken the best bits but focused on producing a wonderful road car".
TUTHILL PORSCHE
One of the numerous "best bits" of the original GT1 was its design. It was quite obviously a lowered, widened 993 generation 911 with an elongated front and rear. Although these modifications were only intended to improve aerodynamic efficiency, downforce generation, and cooling, they gave the GT1 its beautiful proportions and iconic silhouette. The roof-mounted intake, the dramatic ducktail, and the plethora of scoops and vents along with the 90s Le Man car proportions made the GT1 the most distinct Porsche 911 of them all.
TUTHILL PORSCHE
The Tuthill Porsche GT One’s fully carbon fiber body is designed by California-based designer Florian Flatau, and to the delight of all who lay their eyes on it, the GT ONE retains all of those iconic features. But as mentioned before, the philosophy is to retain the desirable qualities and improve the areas that need improving. The headlights for example have a clean, modern LED setup that mimic the design of the 993s lights, rather than the 996's fried egg design. This is the first hint that Tuthill took inspiration from the earlier 993 cars rather than the 996 generation road-going GT1 strassenversions, as seen in the subtle details such as the cleaner front bumper design, the absence of the dramatic front wheel wells, and the full-length light bar at the rear. The wing mirrors, the long front indicators and the rear window louvers are modernized elements that stay true to the aesthetics of the original, while Tuthill and Flatau have added special touches such as the red accent to the roof intake and the Disc style wheels that ensure the GT One doesn’t just look like an old car with LEDs. Tuthill also states that an optional aero package may be developed for track use, for those who want to live their 90's Le Mans fantasies.
TUTHILL PORSCHE
The front and rear clamshells are expansive carbon fiber pieces that open in dramatic fashion to reveal the mechanical underpinnings of the incredible GT ONE. Tuthill offers their clients the flexibility to select their engine and gearbox options according to their preferences. The clients can opt for a 4.0 liter, 6-cylinder engine that is either naturally aspirated or assisted with twin turbochargers. The former will generate more than 500 BHP and is inspired by the incredible 11,000rpm engine of the 911K, while the latter will produce more than 600 BHP. Furthermore, Tuthill also offers clients two options for the transmission: either a 7-speed dual-clutch unit, or a manual transmission that will enable drivers to row their own gears. Along with the majority of the powertrain, the exhaust system is exposed when the rear clamshell is opened, finished in a beautiful white paint that showcases the extent of the artistry involved.
TUTHILL PORSCHE
While they are admired for their craftsmanship and retainment of beloved characteristics, a significant factor in the appeal of the restomod is the refinement of technological and mechanical aspects of the car. The GT ONE is equipped with dual wishbone suspension all around, which should prove to be more forgiving on the road than the race-derived original GT1. Additional bespoke components including the carbon ceramic brakes and specially designed calipers enable the GT ONE to weigh just 1200 kg. The surface and underbody aerodynamic performance have been optimized through CFD analysis, a testament to the advantage of technology that would not have been available during the development of the original. Tuthill has also partnered with Michelin to run the GT ONE on the Pilot Sport 4S, which is essentially the greatest performance road car tire currently on offer. Such enhancements demonstrate the advantage of rethinking the mechanical elements rather than adhering to the aging technology that the car left the factory with.
TUTHILL PORSCHE
TUTHILL PORSCHE
TUTHILL PORSCHE
These modern-day enhancements extend into the interior of the car, which cannot be compared to that of the original even on its worst day. The majority of the interior appear to be trimmed in leather and metals of the finest standard. The dials and switches seem to be of greater quality than even Porsche's current road cars, let alone a 30-year-old race car. The instrument cluster is a digital display enclosed by a pair of air vents to either side, a layout that reminds the onlooker of the All-Terrain Competition Study, which Tuthill built in collaboration with Singer Vehicle Design. The Cabin of the GT ONE is a comprehensive redesign that manages to look futuristic while simultaneously staying true to the design of the original.
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“At the heart of this piece of artwork is of course the constant pursuit of mechanical excellence. We have taken inspiration from all that we have done in the past and have been inspired by what others have done before us and continue to do.”
Tuthill has announced that it will build 22 examples of the GT ONE, which is more or less the number of GT1s that Porsche built for the road. There is no word yet on the pricing, but with the expertise, labor, and passion that went into this project, it is a car deserving of a 7-figure sum. While their previous work have been nothing short of jaw-dropping, The GT ONE shows the world what Tuthill can create with a blank sheet. Best summarized as "pushing the boundaries of automotive excellence".
TUTHILL PORSCHE
