Sahlen's Porsche 996 GT3 RS – 4x Rolex24 Daytona Car – Road Atlanta 1:29.9 in 8 Laps (Best: 1:27.77)

Eight laps from a test day at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta in the ex-Team Sahlen #43 Porsche 996 GT3 RS, building from 1:31.88 to a best of 1:29.96 – my first time in the 1:29s in this car. Watch the tires come in, and the brake points move later lap by lap. For reference, Johannes van Overbeek – winner of both the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring, and CDOC's driver coach – drove this car at HSR The Mitty in April and went 1:27.77, so there's more in it than I found. THE CAR Chassis WP0ZZZ99Z1S698035. Delivered new in 2001 as a 996 GT3 Cup to Canada, where it won back-to-back Canadian GT championships in 2001 and 2002, then upgraded to GT3 RS specification in period with Porsche Motorsport North America parts. Four Rolex 24 at Daytona starts, classified in all four, including 4th in GT in 2005 – and the last 996 ever to run the Rolex 24. Rolex 24 at Daytona (GT class) 2005 – Team Sahlen #43 – 4th in GT 2006 – Team Sahlen #41 – 9th in GT 2007 – Team Sahlen #41 – 29th in GT 2008 – Bullet Racing #44 – 14th in GT Full race record: https://www.racingsportscars.com/chas... THE REFRESH We found this car under five layers of spare bodywork in the corner of the shop. Then Bobby Groner walked in for his first day at CDOC and told me he'd worked on this exact car at Team Sahlen from 2006 to 2008. Wayne Nonnamaker sent us period photos and the original livery colors, and we brought it back in a 21-day build documented in the six-part "Road To Daytona 2026" series:    / playlistlist=plgvb_4m10vjs0r1ykw_alvbdqoxy...   Tub fully repainted; period-correct 2005-spec Sahlen's livery and #43 997.2 GT3 Cup engine and transmission with matching harness and dash, fitted to the original 996 GT3 RS tub. The period drivetrain did not survive with the car; the 997.2 unit brings a longer rebuild interval, lower running cost, and stronger parts availability, making this a car you can race rather than store. TracTive ACE electronically adjustable dampers with cockpit screen and driver-adjustable knob – a modern, tunable damper system on a period chassis NOS Premier 996 GT3 RS fuel cell via The Racers Group; 997 fuel pumps in the original location Bosch Motorsport ABS, dual brake master cylinders, power steering New wheel bearings, rotors, air jacks, alternator, coolant hoses and reservoir, new windshield and blowout tabs, seat, belts, and so much more Original Hella endurance headlights refurbished, new headlamp covers BBS wheels (originally Fikse) VBOX video and data, Flagtronics, Motorola Digital Comm System Period sponsor livery: Sahlen's, Alcon, K&N, Eibach, Bosch, HRP THE RETURN On January 24, 2026, I raced the #43 in the HSR IMSA Classic at Daytona, hours before the Rolex 24, finishing 2nd in GT (first Porsche home) and 6th overall behind four Riley prototypes and the class-winning Viper GTS-R – the car's first race in 18 years. SINCE DAYTONA The car has run a full 2026 season since its return: HSR The Mitty, Road Atlanta (April) – Johannes van Overbeek set a 1:27.77 in the car HSR Watkins Glen Classic 6 Hour (June) Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, Laguna Seca – invited entry (August) Road Atlanta test – 1:29.96, this video (September) TODAY Track: Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, 2.54 mi Best lap: 1:29.96 – since improved to 1:29.32, see follow-up:    • Ex-Sahlen's #43 Porsche 996 GT3 RS – New P...   (car's best: 1:27.77, Johannes van Overbeek, April 2026 - link below) Date: September 18, 2026 Going into this test: zero-hour gearbox, and an 85-hour 997.2 Cup engine untouched since Weissach. After a full season of HSR competition and a run at Monterey, the car is race-ready and available through CDOC. Johannes van Overbeek's 1:27.77 at HSR The Mitty, with corner-by-corner commentary in the car (and traffic in the final complex):    • GRAND AM Endurance Legend at ROAD ATLANTA:...   Johannes is available for coaching to drivers in the CDOC paddock, and knows this car. Timestamps 0:00 Lap 1 – 1:31.88 1:32 Lap 2 – 1:31.80 3:04 Lap 3 – 1:31.09 4:35 Lap 4 – 1:31.01 6:06 Lap 5 – 1:30.83 7:37 Lap 6 – 1:30.55 9:07 Lap 7 – 1:30.47 10:38 Lap 8 – 1:29.96 This is the ex-Team Sahlen #43 996 – four Rolex 24 starts, back on track after an 18-year hiatus, and rebuilt by the CDOC team, led by Colin Dougherty and Bobby Groner – Bobby worked on this exact car at Sahlen's in period. Raced all season in 2026 – Daytona, the Mitty, the Glen and Monterey. Daytona and Sebring winner Johannes van Overbeek, CDOC's driver coach, drove it at the Mitty and set a 1:27.77 – onboard with commentary here:    • GRAND AM Endurance Legend at ROAD ATLANTA:...   – and he's available to the next owner. Now for sale through CDOC. Full restoration series:    / playlistlist=plgvb_4m10vjs0r1ykw_alvbdqoxy...  . Questions on the car, ask below or contact Colin at CDOC. Ex-Sahlen's #43 Porsche 996 GT3 RS – 4x Rolex 24 Daytona Car – Road Atlanta 1:29.96 in 8 Laps (Pro Best: 1:27.77)