Vehicle Description
Chassis No. WP0ZZZ95ZJN165062
Few racing cars of the 1980s embody Porsche's philosophy of "Win on
Sunday, Sell on Monday" as well as the 944 Turbo Cup. Just months
after the debut of the one-make 944 Cup series at the N�rburgring
in 1986, Porsche Canada's motorsport manager David Deacon brought
the series to Canada with the backing of the British tobacco
company Rothmans, naming it the Rothmans Porsche Challenge.
Switching to the more powerful 944 for the 1988 season, Turbo Cup
cars shed 600 pounds from the standard 944 Turbo and featured
factory lightweighting such as magnesium "telephone dial" wheels, a
magnesium intake and oil pain, a fiberglass hood, and a light
Sekuriflex windshield. Inside, all unnecessary comforts were
removed, replaced with a steel Matter roll cage and a Recaro racing
seat. Power came from a 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-four
producing 250 horsepower and 272 lb-ft of torque, delivered through
a five-speed manual transaxle with a limited-slip differential and
close-ratio fifth gear.
This 1988 Porsche 944 Turbo Cup, one of approximately 200
Weissach-built examples globally and one of 38 destined for the
Canadian series, boasts an impressive competition history having
been campaigned in three consecutive seasons from 1988 through
1990. The Turbo Cup's career began with its purchase by Terry
Cleland and his tuning company Canadian Pragmatics Ltd., running it
with Leaseline International sponsorship and driver Cam Champion in
1988. That season, wearing number 4, Champion achieved three top-10
finishes for a 14th-place championship result. Its performance
improved markedly when Bill Adam took control in 1989 and 1990.
Under Toshiba-ISG sponsorship and carrying start number 3, Adam
guided the Porsche to back-to-back third-place championship
finishes. During Adam's tenure, the car secured ten podium finishes
and two race victories-one at Circuit Mont-Tremblant and another at
Mosport Park. This impressive pedigree is documented through its
original CASC Vehicle Log Book.
In the decade after it made its mark in the Rothmans Porsche Turbo
Cup series, the car was imported to the U.S. and passed through the
hands of a number of enthusiasts beginning with Carlos Carrera in
1991, James Bryant in 1995, Bruce Tittel in 2000, Jim Newman in
2002, and Colin Dougherty, the owner of DAS Sport, in 2003. By that
time, the Turbo Cup had accumulated fewer than 10,000 miles
(approximately 16,000 kilometers).
In more recent years, the car has been treated to an extensive
mechanical restoration beginning in August 2020 with an $18,394
comprehensive service that addressed nearly every major system. Key
items included a complete overhaul of the engine with new bearings,
belts, and sensors, along with a transaxle service. The suspension
and drivetrain received attention with new CV joints, Delrin sway
bar bushings, and a complete brake system renewal featuring
stainless steel brake lines and replacement rear rotors. In June
2021, the car received further powertrain improvements including
replacing all engine hoses and plumbing due to age, as well as a
rebuilt turbocharger and custom ECU chip. Through late 2022 and
2023, the restoration continued with a complete top-end engine
rebuild and turbocharger system refinements, including the addition
of Teflon-lined oil feed lines. The total investment in mechanical
restoration from 2020 to 2024 exceeds $60,000, with the most recent
service completed in March 2024.
Today the car retains its 1990 season Rothmans Toshiba-ISG livery,
having never required repainting due to crash damage, and is also
furnished with Bill Adam's original Rothmans Porsche Challenge
driver jacket. Its authenticity extends to the interior, which
features the original Weissach-supplied Nomex-upholstered Recaro
racing seat, factory-installed German fire suppression system, and
Matter safety cage with period-correct decals. Furthermore, the is
offered with several original components that allow for seamless
transition between historic racing and street use. These include
the rear-hinged seat back (removed during Rothmans series
competition), a two-piece street exhaust with muffler, and both
front and rear license plate brackets.
Now showing 24,398 kilometers at the time of cataloging and road
registered in Texas, this piece of Porsche racing history remains
one of the most intact and original of its type-thoroughly
documented with receipts and records covering its entire 35-year
ownership history without interruption. Furthermore, this
lightweight, factory-built racing 944 Turbo Cup is primed for entry
into any Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) sprint/endurance event or
to be enjoyed on public roads.
