The Porsche 911 GT1 debuted in 1996 and was designed to compete in top level endurance races, with a wide and low silhouette that was honed in wind tunnels and featured design cues such as a roof air intake, bulging fenders and a downforce-boosting rear diffuser. While the head- and taillights still bore resemblance to the 911 production car, it is no exaggeration to say that this was a highly modified, pure racing version of the car: the chassis rear was redeveloped into a space frame, and a 3,166cc flat-six engine was stowed midships; a pair of turbochargers combined to give an awesome output of 640hp. Its double wishbone suspension had horizontal dampers and pushrods. In its maiden 1996 season it achieved second and third places in perhaps the most famous event on the calendar, also taking victories in races at Brands Hatch and Spa.