Porsche Carrera GT (2006)

The Carrera GT's roots can be firmly traced back to its predecessors, the 911 GT1 and LMP1-98 racing cars. In 1998 Porsche planned on a new Le Mans prototype for 1999. The car was initially intended to use a turbocharged flat-6, but was later redesigned to use a new V10 engine, pushing the project back to planned completion in 2000. The V10 was a unit secretly built by Porsche for the Footwork Formula One team in 1992 but had been shelved. The engine was resurrected for the Le Mans prototype and increased in size to 5.7-litres. Unfortunately, the project was cancelled after two days of testing for the first car, in mid-1999, mostly due to Porsche's wish to build the Cayenne SUV with involvement from Volkswagen and Audi, thus requiring engineering expertise to be pulled from the motorsports division. It was also speculated that VW-Audi chairman Ferdinand Piëch wanted Audi's new Le Mans Prototype, the Audi R8 not to face competition from Porsche in 2004.

Porsche did keep part of the project alive showing a concept car at the 2000 Geneva Motor Show, mainly in an attempt to draw attention to their display. Surprising interest in the vehicle and an influx of revenue provided from the Cayenne helped Porsche decide to produce the car, and development started on a road-legal version that would be produced in small numbers at Porsche's new manufacturing facility in Leipzig. Porsche started a production run of Carrera GTs in 2004, the first Carrera GT went on sale in the US on January 31, 2004. The Carrera GT is powered by a 5.7-litre V10 engine producing 612 horsepower. Porsche claims it will accelerate from 0 to 62.1 mph in 3.9 seconds and has a maximum speed of 205 mph although road tests indicated that in reality, the car can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds! The Carrera GT has a basic five colour paint schemes which included Guards Red, Fayence Yellow, Basalt Black, GT Silver and Seal Grey. Custom colours were also available from the factory. A traditional six-speed manual transmission is the only available.

Elements pointing to the car's stillborn Le Mans routes are abundant throughout the car. Attached to this gearbox is a Beechwood gear knob which pays homage to the wooden gear knob used in the Porsche 917 Le Mans racers. In typical Porsche fashion, the ignition is to the left of the steering wheel. This placement dates back to the early days of Le Mans racing when drivers were required to make a running start, hop into their cars, start them and begin the race. The placement of the ignition enabled the driver to start the car with his left hand and put it in gear with his right.

This example was supplied new to its first owner on 6th January 2006 by Porsche dealership Carrera Motors of Belgium. Finished in the elegant and lesser seen hue of Seal Grey, this example also features the desirable Ascot Brown and Natural Dark Grey leather interior.

Optioned - as many examples were - with air-conditioning, Becker CD Radio Pro, and an uprated battery, this example was further ordered with the matching Ascot Brown luggage set. The luggage set is complete and remains with the car to date. Remaining in Belgium with its first keeper for ten years, this Carrera GT was serviced exclusively by the supplying dealership.

Specification:

• C22 Belgium
• L6B4 Seal Grey
• RZ Ascot Brown/Natural Grey leather
• RZ Ascot Brown Luggage set
• 197 Uprated battery
• 572 Air conditioning
• 681 Sound System
• 690 CD Radio Porsche Online Pro

In December 2018, the Carrera GT was sold and imported into the UK. Shortly after arriving on UK soil, the car was dispatched to Porsche GB in Reading for a comprehensive major service. Extending beyond the standard remit, the works replaced three of the wheels as well as all of the camshafts which are prone to pitting. The clutch was replaced at the same time whilst the engine was out of the car. The resulting invoice issued in early 2019 totalled £72,000, with the parts alone totalling £44,700. Since this service, this example has covered fewer than 500 miles, returning to Porsche GB in July 2023 for a further annual service, and once again in September 2024 for the completion of the stop drive recall alongside a service and new set of tyres.

Today this example presents superbly with 11,000 miles from new, accompanied by its original bookpack and complete Ascot Brown matching luggage set and is available to view at our showrooms outside London immediately.

• C22 Supplied new to Belgium
• Stop drive recall completed along with a fresh service and new tyres at Porsche GB in September
• Seal Grey over Ascot & Natural Dark Grey leather
• Accompanied by its complete Ascot Brown luggage set
• UK Registered
• 11,000 miles from new
• Less than 500 miles covered since £72,000 of works by Porsche GB in 2019