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 Nürburgring 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.