The Porsche 944 may not enjoy the legendary status of a 911, but in full IMSA GTR form it became one of the wildest and most exciting race cars of the 1980s. At Rennsport 7 at Laguna Seca, this brutally wide, turbocharged machine showed exactly why it remains so special.
This particular car is one of just seven Porsche 944 GTRs built by renowned fabricator Dave Clemens in Georgia, making it the last and rarest of the group. Originally commissioned by gentleman racer Chad Pinchin, the car passed through several expert hands, including Lee Dykstra, and benefitted from continual development and refinement. Eventually acquired at auction, it underwent hundreds of hours of preparation to return it to full race-ready condition.
Unlike the road-going 944, the GTR is essentially a silhouette racer with a full tube-frame chassis, NASCAR-like in construction but engineered with Porsche-level precision. It uses a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder paired with a massive turbo and twin wastegates, delivering relentless boost and explosive acceleration. Despite its power, the car retains the balanced, confidence-inspiring feel the 944 is known for, amplified by enormous tires and immense grip.
With 962-derived brakes and suspension components, raw mechanical feedback, and outrageous proportions, the 944 GTR captures the fearless ingenuity of IMSA’s golden era—an unforgettable blend of engineering excess and visceral racing drama.
This is the kind of car that you’ll also love to see and hear in action, just like in this video from Goodwood Road & Racing featuring a Porsche 944 GTR roaring around Laguna Seca.
Source: Goodwood Road & Racing
