- Chassis # WP0AA095XJN165073
- 1 Of 39 Examples Produced For The Rothmans Series
- A Genuine Weissach-Built Factory Race Car
- Extensive Service File & Recent Thorough Servicing
- Retaining Much Of Its Original Componentry
- Campaigned In The Rothmans 944 Turbo Cup
What began as the Porsche Challenge in 1986 soon became the Rothmans Porsche Turbo Cup: a Canadian-national, single-marque race series beginning in 1988. The Rothmans Series was first class. It was sponsored by some of the most reputable names in motorsport, it was televised and it awarded lucrative winnings: the season champion won a seat in a Rothmans-backed 962C at the next year’s running of the 24hrs of Le Mans. The series existed for just 3 years and during that time just one model took to the circuit courses: the purpose-built Porsche 944 Turbo Cup.
The Porsche 944 Turbo Cup car is a titled from new, Weissach-built Porsche, the very first Porsche built at Weissach with the intentions of Cup racing. Though externally similar, no fewer than 52 notable enhancements differentiate the Cup cars from the catalog 944 Turbo. The Cup weighed in at some 600lbs lighter than the standard car and received numerous performance enhancements such as magnesium wheels, intake and oil sump, as well as bespoke brakes and Bilstein suspension. A turbocharged 2.5L inline 4-cylinder engine sent a rated 250 HP and 272 lb.-ft of torque to the rear wheels through a 5-speed manual transaxle and a limited-slip differential.
The example offered here is chassis JN165073, built in late December 1987. Finished in Alpine White, JN165073 is the 12th of just 39 Rothmans Series spec cars and 1 of 2 cars campaigned by Canadian dealer Mark Motors of Ottawa. Mark Motors took delivery of the vehicle in late April 1988 and enlisted grassroots racer David Seabrooke to campaign the car for each of the 3 seasons. Seabrooke made frequent televised appearances and would go on to earn multiple top 10 finishes.
It is said that Seabrooke retained JN165073 after its official time on track before passing the car along to one Robert Munro, who commissioned a complete restoration in April of 1991. In July of 2002, ownership of the car passed to Dr. Ronald Teitjen, a prominent Connecticut-based Porsche Collector and Historic Race Car driver. Tejten would campaign and track the car regularly at private track and various PCA events according to the vehicle’s logbooks. Continuous and meticulous maintenance since 2002 is evident in the vehicle’s history file. Under the care of the current owner, JN165073 has been thoroughly gone through in preparation for its next season of racing. Services include a comprehensive refreshing of fluids, lighting, gaskets, and filters, and most notably a replacement driver’s window and turbocharger.
Today the car wears much of its original componentry including Magnesium wheels and intake, a fiberglass hood, and a scrutineer’s seat. It should be stated the bumpers are aftermarket replacements and the hood pins are of a contemporary design. Within the vehicle’s history file exists its CASC and PCA logbooks as well as a spattering of invoices, correspondence, and various period photographs.
These Turbo Cup cars are both beautiful and eminently usable. They are eligible for HSR, PCA Club Races, and more, and would surely excite the discerning eye of any rear-engine purist at Concours events.
