Got my VLN license on friday and did my first start on Saturday in the 6h race.

Plan is to race a GT3 CUP next season there and I'm thinking which makes more sense from running costs point of view; 997 or 991.

Only running cost, no crashes etc.

 

991. I loved the 997s. stout, fast, electric, exciting.
but the 991s are easier to drive faster; more forgiving. the motors and trans are less delicate. though the chassis is more delicate. i'm not a fan of the new data systems and always liked the motec.
and with prices coming down on 991s, its probably worth the uptick in initial purchase prices over a 997.

rebuild on transmissions and engines for the 997 will get astronomical in short order, is my guess.

 

Assume you're talking about the 991.1

Engine is the same block as the 997.1 so no difference there--40H rebuild intervals but you will be opening up the engine before then, given you're running 6 hours a clip.

Gearbox wear in the 997 is way worse. Technical guidance is 20H but in reality you're looking at less than that if you don't have a blipper or one that's not well calibrated.

 

I'm selling my 997.1 Cup after recently purchasing a 15 991 Cup and will share my experience that the 997.1 gearbox issues I read about are not at all what I've experienced. I had the gearbox apart twice during it's 55 hours of use and at no point was there an issue. I chose to rebuild at 55 hours because it was better to refresh and upgrade rather than deal with an implosion due to wear. I've used a PMS blipper and always used the clutch for downshifts, zero issues and upgraded 2nd and 3rd gears during the refresh rebuild.

I do wonder if I'll miss the "thrashing" of the shifter when it'll be all about the paddles? Time will tel.l......

 

I'm missing the sequential shifter already. It's really an experience unique to this generation of racers.

I bought my car with a pretty tired box and that decided to split with me (literally) within the first 10 hours of my ownership. Got a near-zero-hour box from Bill Rader and Manthey blipper and that was sweet. But my two home tracks both need a lot of engine braking and my 5th/4th/3rd took the brunt of that burden. Dogs pretty banged up before 20 hours were up... and those were just testing/hard-lapping not race use.

I clutch with every downshift. I reckon it had to do with the calibration of my blipper. The PMNA recommendation of 30-40% wdka may be on the low side...

As to the 991? It won't even let you "steal" a marginal downshift, to nanny you from overrevving the engine. I disdain that system but it is what the series are all moving towards. Accepted, moved on...

One day though, I'd like to get myself back into an early 997 R with the sequential. That physicality, there's no match...

 

997.2 Cup is easier to repair body damage compared to 991.

991.1 Cup has paddle shift which saves tranny life.

If you can get a 997.2 for the right price you can add Paddle shift aftermarket but you would have to see if the series you run would allow the modification.