2002 Porsche 911 (996) GT2 Clubsport

The fabulously rare car we have with us today is one of just 16 RHD GT2 Clubsport variants delivered to the UK.

Only 70 were ever built worldwide.

The ‘Clubsport’ spec was aimed squarely at motorsport enthusiasts, and featured a roll-cage, two race-style bucket seats, six-point harnesses, a fire extinguisher, a battery isolator switch, and no POSIP side airbags or other driver aids.

This car, in case you hadn’t guessed, is not for the faint-hearted.

We have driven it and can vouch for its astonishing ability to surprise you with its raw power and brutal acceleration even 21 years after leaving the factory.

Short of strapping yourself to a ballistic missile, it’s hard to imagine how you could progress at much higher speeds – unless you have the wherewithal to afford the sort of car that comes with an extra nought or two on its price tag.

We defy you to drive it without either grinning like a Cheshire cat or pulling a face like something from Edvard Munch’s ‘The Scream’.

It’s quite an experience and, with just 26,786 miles on the clock, it’s still a very low mileage example.

This car has benefitted from ownership by a vendor who, by his own admission, is a ‘bit picky’.

He owns and runs a couple of engineering business and is an engineer by trade.

Consequently, he has a finely tuned ear for anything that doesn’t sound exactly right, even if it’s virtually imperceptible to a less expert audience.

He has always had the car serviced and maintained by highly respected Porsche fettlers Project Nine Engineering.

Sometime in 2020, when the car was in for a service, he pointed out a very, very faint rattle to the 911 whisperers at Project Nine.

They listened carefully, agreed that they could just about hear something and, after a bit of head scratching, offered their opinion that it was probably something to do with the oil pump.

Our vendor, who has never dodged any expenditure on this car, gave them a free rein to go and solve the problem.

All well and good, you might think.

Except that this engine is, of course, one of Hans Mezger’s powerplant masterpieces, which means that accessing and replacing the fuel pump entails totally dismantling and rebuilding the engine.

That’s why you’ll find some eye-watering bills and receipts in the documents section, covering not just the cost of the new pump and the engine rebuild, but all the new bolts, bearings, piston rings, seals, gaskets, chains and other ancillary bits and pieces that it made sense to replace at the same time.

He even had the turbo refurbished.

He can supply photographs of all the work carried out.

It turned out that the source of the faint noise the vendor had heard was a Woodruff key chattering inside a casing.

Well, nearly £20,000 later, the ‘problem’ is now fixed.

Yes, you read that right; nearly £20,000.

To commemorate successful completion of the job, the vendor had the removed oil pump components cleaned up and mounted on an olive-wood plinth – which comes with the car.

It’s quite a talking point.

This GT2 Clubsport has never been raced – the vendor has a TVR hill-climb special with which to scratch that particular itch.

Instead, it has lived most of its life sitting under covers on a four-post ramp, occasionally being fired up for a run down to Le Mans or Spa.

The vendor is only selling because he simply doesn’t use it enough and feels that the time might be right for something a little less hard core (he’s toying with the idea of a V12 Aston Martin, which is not exactly a ‘soft’ option, in our opinion).

The bodywork is in excellent condition and is far more a reflection of the car’s low mileage than its age.

There are no dents, creases or dinks of any significance to report anywhere that we can see.

The shut-lines and panel gaps are as Teutonically crisp and consistent as you would hope and wish to find.

The original black paintwork gleams with a real depth of shine and lustre.

But the vendor has chosen to value originality over aesthetic perfection and has therefore resisted the temptation to have it wrapped, coated, re-painted or otherwise given the automotive equivalent of a Botox injection or a facelift.

Consequently, you’ll find a few stone chips in the usual places - the front valance, bonnet, rear wheel arches and front wings - but certainly no more than you might expect.

As you would hope to find on a car that’s yet to reach 30,000 miles, the lights, lenses, badging, trim and other exterior fixtures and fittings are all beyond reproach.

The wheels, too, are in fine condition and seem to be unacquainted with any kerbs or other hazards.

The matching Michelin Pilot Sport tyres look to have plenty of life left in them.

The good news continues unabated on the inside, where the car’s single-minded focus on competitive performance is immediately apparent.

The Clubsport bits and pieces – roll cage, bucket seats, harnesses, fire extinguisher, etc, are all very good.

The seats, while firm, are supportive and comfortable.

The switches, knobs, buttons, levers and dials are all in fine fettle and the vendor assures us that everything does what it’s supposed to do and doesn’t need asking twice.

The door cards, carpets, mats and headlining are untroubled by use or the passage of time, as are the steering wheel, handbrake and gear lever.

As you would expect, the ‘frunk’ is every bit as good as the rest of it.

The engine bay looks clean, dry and as you would expect in a car that’s yet to reach 30,000 miles.

Everything appears to be in its right and proper place although, as it’s a 911, you really can’t see very much.

The undersides of the car seem to have plenty of structural integrity and look as if they’ve spent most of their time indoors in the warm and dry (they have).

This car has a service book that’s bristling with stamps, all from Project Nine Engineering over the last decade or so.

It comes with all handbooks, manuals, keys, a clear HPI check and plenty of evidence that no expense whatsoever has been spared in the maintenance and upkeep of this extraordinary car.

The 911 (996) GT2 has become, quite deservedly, a legend in its own lifetime.

Its ferocity astounded motoring journalists at the time of its launch and it’ll hold its own with virtually anything on the road even today.

These are thoroughbred, pedigree, no-compromise performance weapons and this is a particularly well-sorted, properly curated Clubsport example of the model.

We’re confident to offer this awesome car for auction with an estimate of £120,000 - £140,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at the Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.