Porsche 911 Highlights

The 2005 Porsche 911 redesigned rear-wheel-drive models. The models are available as coupes and convertible Cabriolets. They all have a rear-mounted, horizontally opposed 6-cyl engine. The redesigned Porsche 911 has subtly altered styling and dimensions and changed the interior. There are two types of 911: The Carrera, with a 325-hp 3.6 liter engine and The Carrera S, with 355-hp 3.8 liter.

The 6-speed manual transmission is standard to all 911s. Optional, we can choose the 5-speed automatic with manual shift gate and steering-wheel controls. Standard, the 911s have antilock 4-wheel disc brakes, antiskid / traction control and front side airbags. The redesigned Careras include side airbags in the windowsills for head protection. In the convertibles models, we find a power top and heated glass rear window. A suspension with lowered ride height and shock absorbers are standard on the Carrera S and optional on the Carrera. This system helps adjusting firmness within driver selectable Normal and Sport models. All other Porsche models have 18 inch wheels, but the Carrera S has 19s. An option for the Carrera is a Sport Chrono Package. It includes a dashboard-mounted stopwatch and it allows altering various engine and chassis controls in order to improve driving performance. All 911s offer a navigation system.

Porsche and Formula One

When Porsche entered into races, Porsche astonished the world with its performances. But participation in Formula One races brought mixed results. In the 1961-1962 season, Porsche participated as a constructor but produced just one win in a championship race, claimed by Dan Gurney at the 1962 French Grand Prix.

In a non-championship race, one week later Stuttgart's Solitude it repeated the success. At the end of the season, Porsche retired from F1 due to the high costs.

In 1983, Porsche returned to Formula One, supplying engines badged as TAG units for the McLaren Team. It was a success as the Porsche-powered  cars won two constructor championships in 1984 and 1985 and three driver crowns in 1984, 1985 and 1986.

Less than ten years later, in 1991, Porsche returned as a engine supplier, but this time the results were disastrous: Footwork, the Porsche-powered cars, didn’t score a single point and at over half of the races it even failed to qualify. Since that year, Porsche has  not participated to Formula One.

Still, lightly-modified Porsches participate in many competitions around the world, mostly in amateur classes for enthusiasts. The only professional category is the Porsche Michelin Supercup raced as a support category for European Formula One rounds.