Broad Arrow Auctions, in partnership with Air|Water and Luftgekühlt, is worked up to host their second all-Porsche Public sale on the 2025 version of Air|Water, the globally acknowledged Porsche fanatic occasion, on 26 April in Costa Mesa, California. This must-attend public sale will function an elite number of uncommon and standout examples from the famend marque together with, this 2003 Porsche 911 GT3 RS Yankees – Orbit Racing estimated at $450,000 – $500,000.
The Porsche 996-generation 911 GT3 established a unprecedented competitors document that few rivals may match within the late Nineteen Nineties and into the early 2000s. The outstanding water-cooled platform claimed a number of GT class victories at main endurance occasions together with Daytona, Le Mans, and Sebring. Maybe most notably, it achieved an surprising total victory on the 2003 Daytona 24 Hours, defeating purpose-built Daytona Prototype racers. The 911 GT3 platform additionally conquered the difficult 24-hour races at each Spa and the Nürburgring, whereas securing championships throughout various sequence together with FIA GT, American Le Mans Collection GT, European Le Mans Collection GT, and Grand-Am.
Launched in 1999 with the arrival of the 996.1 technology, the road-going GT3 introduced stiffer and lowered suspension, elevated chassis bracing, 100 kilos in weight financial savings, and a pleasant 3.6-liter flat-six delivering 360 horsepower. Carrying ahead the competitors legacy of the Holy Grail homologation-special 1973 911 Carrera RS, Porsche’s Weissach division additionally developed a devoted racing model—the GT3 R—which debuted at Le Mans in 1999 with a direct class victory. The GT3 R continued its dominance in each the American Le Mans Collection and FIA GT Championship over subsequent years. In 2000, a factory-supported Phoenix Racing GT3 R claimed victory on the grueling Nürburgring 24 Hours.
The GT3 R’s successor arrived within the type of the modified GT3 RS in 2001 and was campaigned by way of 2003. Our topic automobile, a 2003 mannequin, utilized the GT1-based Mezger 3.6-liter engine outfitted with specialised elements, together with a novel consumption manifold, bigger diameter titanium valves, and a extra aggressive camshaft profile. Below ACO rules, two 30.8-mm diameter restrictors restricted energy output to 435 horsepower at 8,250 rpm. Per Le Mans rules, the automobile weighed simply 1,100 kg (roughly 2,442 lbs) because of carbon-Kevlar physique panels, plastic door, aspect, and rear home windows. The chassis featured a McPherson entrance, multi-link rear suspension with spherical joints and RS-specific entrance and rear uprights, paired with 380-mm entrance, 355-mm rear ceramic composite brakes.
Weissach produced simply two prototypes in 1999, 66 GT3 R fashions in 2000, adopted by 51 GT3 RS variants in 2001, 48 in 2002, and 20 in 2003. The RSR noticed 28 models inbuilt 2004 and simply 10 in 2005. The 2001-2003 RS fashions just like the automobile on provide are significantly important because the final 911 endurance racers outfitted with a six-speed guide transmission earlier than Porsche switched to pneumatically-actuated sequential gearboxes within the RSR—marking the top of an period.
This explicit 911 GT3 RS, chassis quantity 065, is among the 20 inbuilt 2003 and was delivered to Rodger Hawley, proprietor of Florida-based Orbit Racing. Porsche offered manufacturing facility assist for the workforce, as evidenced by its full carbon ground and one-piece, hole monoblock BBS wheels, in addition to the participation of works driver Marc Lieb—who partnered with Peter Baron and Leo Hindery—for the automobile’s aggressive debut on the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June 2003. Hindery, a notable determine in sports activities media, was concerned with the tv rights for the New York Yankees baseball workforce and owned the YES Community, giving the automobile its distinctive livery which it retains right this moment. Carrying begin quantity 87, the automobile joined seven different Porsche GT class entries in opposition to competitors from 4 Ferraris, two TVRs, and a lone BMW-powered Spyker. This formidable Porsche presence continued the marque’s excellent document at Le Mans because the GT3’s introduction in 1999, sweeping the highest six positions. The Orbit automobile of Hindery, Lieb, and Baron secured a powerful beginning place in qualifying, lining up in third place behind the Alex Job Racing/Petersen Motorsport “White Lightning” GT3 and Kevin Buckler’s The Racer’s Group automobile.
Within the race, Lucas Luhr (AJR), Marc Lieb (Orbit), and Timo Bernhard (Racer’s Group) set a blistering tempo, establishing a transparent lead and leaving little doubt they might dominate the class. The Orbit Racing workforce held a powerful place initially however yielded third place to the Workforce Taisan Advan Porsche within the second hour. Because the race progressed, all of the main Porsches encountered technical difficulties, with the Orbit workforce needing to vary a water radiator. Regardless of these challenges, the quantity 87 automobile persevered, in the end ending in 2nd place within the GT class, six laps behind the successful Alex Job Racing/Petersen Motorsport Porsche of Maassen, Luhr, and Collard.
The automobile’s subsequent look got here through the American Le Mans season opener on the Sebring 12 Hours in March of 2004, carrying begin quantity 43 and beneath the banner of BAM! (British American Motorsport). Leo Hindery and Peter Baron have been joined by 20-year-old Porsche works driver Mike Rockenfeller, ending thirteenth total and fifth within the GT class behind the Porsche GT3s of Alex Job Racing, Petersen Motorsports, and Flying Lizard Motorsports.
This distinctive 911 GT3 RS retains its unique, matching-numbers chassis that has been meticulously restored to its exact 2003 Le Mans specification as campaigned by Orbit Racing. Not like many competitors automobiles of the period which have endured important injury requiring intensive repairs or full chassis replacements, chassis WP0ZZZ99Z3S692065 stands aside, having by no means suffered structural injury and by no means being “retubbed” as evidenced by the unique Le Mans technical inspection stickers nonetheless affixed to the chassis. The automobile has been thoughtfully up to date with present security gear to satisfy European historic racing requirements, together with a contemporary gas cell and racing harnesses that guarantee each driver security and occasion eligibility. Lately the topic of a complete restoration, the car has been returned to its iconic YES Community/New York Yankees livery—the distinctive blue and silver colour scheme that made it immediately recognizable on the Circuit de la Sarthe.
Having undergone solely a single shakedown take a look at since this exacting restoration work, the automobile presents in competition-ready situation. As one of the vital approachable fashionable Porsche GT competitors automobiles and one of many final with a six-speed guide transmission, this GT3 RS provides an ideal mixture of competitors pedigree and real usability for future historic racing occasions corresponding to Endurance Racing Legends or any variety of Porsche Membership occasions.
To view extra thrilling automobiles on provide at Broad Arrow’s Porsche Air|Water Public sale, please go to their web site at broadarrowauctions.com and you should definitely register to bid for this thrilling must-attend occasion.
