GT3 Cup Cars - what are they like as a track day car?
Discussion
I have noticed that there are lots of GT3 Cup cars for sale (racecarsdirect.com), although mostly LHD they appear to be a lot cheaper than a road going GT3 RS, by that they appear to be available from 70K Euros vs £150K for a RHD Gen 2 RS. JZM had previously advised me that they are very expensive to run. Anyone on here used a Cup car for track days and what was your experience with the running costs?
It will generally be more of a PITA to look after; there's centre locks at that which make simple tasks more difficult for someone to just maintain alone. Then there are bespoke items like the Hollinger sequential that will need inspections and maintenance.
I think it's a good idea; you can save a lot of money as you've said. However, i'd personally want track side support which will eat in to the saving significantly.
As it gets replaced, keep an eye on Race Cars Direct and other websites for a 911 GT4. It is more closely related to the road going car (standard manual gearbox, for example) but uses some bits from the Cup.
http://racecarsdirect.com/listing/57033/porsche_99...
http://www.gt3.nl/GT4-menu.pdf
I think it's a good idea; you can save a lot of money as you've said. However, i'd personally want track side support which will eat in to the saving significantly.
As it gets replaced, keep an eye on Race Cars Direct and other websites for a 911 GT4. It is more closely related to the road going car (standard manual gearbox, for example) but uses some bits from the Cup.
http://racecarsdirect.com/listing/57033/porsche_99...
http://www.gt3.nl/GT4-menu.pdf
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
This was discussed relatively recently so may be somewhat insightful.
One comment about the purchase price side of things. Pricing on cars coming out of Europe tends to be more attractive than it is in the US for two main reasons.
The first is that the places to run/use the cars are less/more fragmented. Racing in the GTC classes in the US is fun with (usually) good sized grids and it keeps demand up. The second is that many of the cars that seem to come up on the market here in Europe appear to be in need of a refresh, with everything having been kicked down the road towards the next owner. Ive seen a few cars come up in that situation, sell and reappear later with the can being kicked further down the road. This is not the case for every car thats for sure but as a general theme this seems to hold fairly well. Some of the reason for this is because of reason 1 above.
At the prices the cars are asking, its easily possible to be in for the purchase price of the car again just to refresh it all. The 996 is a bit less - the gearbox doesnt cost as much to redo - but the same generally applies.
You might get lucky and get in and out of a car without anything going wrong during your time, but with some of the cars looking like they have had a few rolls of the dice in this front already the odds would seem to get less and less.
For costs see the above linked post. Its not a straight answer since there are too many variables. My view is still pretty firm on it hovering around $3000/hr including fuel and rubber as a bottom line assuming you are just running for fun at track days and the likes. With current pricing on bits and pieces its also not getting less thats for sure.
This was discussed relatively recently so may be somewhat insightful.
One comment about the purchase price side of things. Pricing on cars coming out of Europe tends to be more attractive than it is in the US for two main reasons.
The first is that the places to run/use the cars are less/more fragmented. Racing in the GTC classes in the US is fun with (usually) good sized grids and it keeps demand up. The second is that many of the cars that seem to come up on the market here in Europe appear to be in need of a refresh, with everything having been kicked down the road towards the next owner. Ive seen a few cars come up in that situation, sell and reappear later with the can being kicked further down the road. This is not the case for every car thats for sure but as a general theme this seems to hold fairly well. Some of the reason for this is because of reason 1 above.
At the prices the cars are asking, its easily possible to be in for the purchase price of the car again just to refresh it all. The 996 is a bit less - the gearbox doesnt cost as much to redo - but the same generally applies.
You might get lucky and get in and out of a car without anything going wrong during your time, but with some of the cars looking like they have had a few rolls of the dice in this front already the odds would seem to get less and less.
For costs see the above linked post. Its not a straight answer since there are too many variables. My view is still pretty firm on it hovering around $3000/hr including fuel and rubber as a bottom line assuming you are just running for fun at track days and the likes. With current pricing on bits and pieces its also not getting less thats for sure.
as above...
and thats just the routine maintenance stuff;
you break something properly, and it will cost you dear
it's not that hard to do either
the previous owner of my 997 cup car disposed of it as he went the wrong way on a gear shift
left a fair few bits behind on the track or so I believe.
Was a full engine rebuild alongside a new sequential gearbox.
that wasn't cheap - but I didn't have to pay for it
I'd say those running costs are about right
I wouldn't have one as a track car
and thats just the routine maintenance stuff;
you break something properly, and it will cost you dear
it's not that hard to do either
the previous owner of my 997 cup car disposed of it as he went the wrong way on a gear shift
left a fair few bits behind on the track or so I believe.
Was a full engine rebuild alongside a new sequential gearbox.
that wasn't cheap - but I didn't have to pay for it
I'd say those running costs are about right
I wouldn't have one as a track car
I ran a 996 cup as a race car and track day car. I believe it is markedly cheaper to run than a 997 cup. It's much closer to the road car in terms of engine and 'box with less tlc needed. I thought about a 997 but saw the gearbox rebuilds, the warming up processes and thought all a bit much in terms of hassle and cost.
I think you can run a 996 cup for same or less cost that a 996 gt3 and it will cost half the price to buy
I think you can run a 996 cup for same or less cost that a 996 gt3 and it will cost half the price to buy
F40GT346 said:
I have noticed that there are lots of GT3 Cup cars for sale (racecarsdirect.com), although mostly LHD they appear to be a lot cheaper than a road going GT3 RS, by that they appear to be available from 70K Euros vs £150K for a RHD Gen 2 RS. JZM had previously advised me that they are very expensive to run. Anyone on here used a Cup car for track days and what was your experience with the running costs?
Get one you won't regret it you can change the gearbox for an H pattern one if you're worried about it, you can buy the centre lock tool for not to much cash pay a bit more fore one that's been refreshed & go enjoy yourself.Gassing Station | 911/Carrera GT | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff