Fifteen years ago, ex-DTM driver Jurgen Alzen built a one-off 996 Turbo for the purpose of racing in the open-rules VLN series and drawing attention. VLN attracted retired DTM cars and modified production cars with lots of power and not much aero grip compared to the GT3-style machines which dominate that class nowadays. The driving experience with these types of machines was much different: h-pattern gearboxes, tons of power, more weight, and less grip; these cars slid around quite a lot. To help harness the power on tap from the turbo six, Alzen ran this car in four-wheel drive.

Originally, he had the 996 Turbo, known affectionately as “Turbinchen,” meaning “little turbo,” running 750 horsepower with a RWD layout. Little turbo alright. Who says the Germans don’t have a sense of humor?

As the cars got more competitive, he lowered the boost and employed the four-wheel drive system to harness something closer to 600 horsepower. Critically, this car boasted as much as 630 lb/ft of torque, which propelled Jurgen and his brother Uwe for four seasons.

It’s remarkable how a production-based, privately-build racecar can outrun the factory Cup Cars and even the RSRs of the day, and still have a decent amount of reliability. To some, this wild creation was a modern-day iteration of the 935. For those who want a taste of the absurdity of old-school Porsches with some modern body control, anyone with a sizable checkbook can build a replica of this car.

They would start with a full widebody and aerodynamic package from DP-Motorsport, a complete, 3.8-liter racing engine from RS Tuning and the high-end intercooling from Secan, and racing suspension from H&R. Though capable of 1,000 horsepower, the restrictions of the day forced Alzen to trim the boost and keep a minimum weight of 3,000 pounds, and eventually, a combination of stringent regulations and a fragility kept him from racing beyond 2006, when Turbinchen was replaced with a Cayman. For the hardcore enthusiasts, the Alzen brothers have another turbocharged 911 – based on a 997 this time – for the ultimate 911 experience.

As one might imagine, the turbocharged 996 was not the sturdiest car on the grid. It always made an impression on the fans, but didn’t finish as often as its drivers would’ve liked. While not a long-distance runner, this sprinter held the record lap for the VLN/24 Hours of Nurburgring race with a 6:40 Nordschliefe time and an 8:09 overall time, which includes the Grand Prix circuit. That stellar time was nearly ten seconds faster than the factory Opel and Audi DTM cars, as well as Schnitzer’s V8-powered M3 GTR! Interestingly enough, Uwe broke his record eight years later in a BMW Z4 GT3 with a scorching 8:02 lap.

Of course, the rear-engined layout helped traction and with Drexler LSDs at both axles, the 996 would simply fire out of corners like a rocket. Alzen ran a relatively small rear wing to help minimize drag, and the widebody certainly didn’t help cut through the air. To compensate, the roof was chopped 75 mm to change the angle of the a-pillars and make the car a bit more slippery. Nevertheless, the car still had a top speed of 248 miles per hour!

After a few years of hibernation, the Alzen brothers rebuilt the monster and tested it at Hockenheim. That incredible power is clearly audible with the new footage, and we thank them for it.