Long before the days of GT3 Cup Cars, Porsche branched out into the club racing world with their 944. In both normally-aspirated and turbocharged guises, the front-engined car from Stuttgart bewitched fans with its classic looks and surprisingly nimble nature. With the road car selling well, Porsche started the 944 Turbo Cup – a series which ran from 1986-1989, and helped get a number of talented racers noticed – including Canadians Scott Goodyear and Jacques Villeneuve.

The 944 Turbo Cup was popular as it was very close in spirit to the road-going version. However, it benefited from wider tires front and rear – 245 and 255-sections, respectively – and a 400-pound reduction thanks to magnesium parts, a fiberglass hood, a lighter battery, and the removal of any and every amenity one would want in a mid-range, road-going sports car. As the 944 Turbo was not a heavy car to begin with, this substantial loss in weight made it into a surprisingly speedy monster which captivated the imaginations of many budding, young gearheads in the late 1980s.

The 944’s versatility made it a suitable rally car too.

The 944 Turbo Cup was no momentum racer, either. With as much as 290 horsepower in some of its later guises, the 2.5-liter engine could propel the diminutive Porsche at an alarming rate. This speed was facilitated by a larger turbocharger, but supported by a strengthened gearbox, hard rubber suspension mounts, stronger suspension arms, 928 S4 brakes with brake ducting, and the sort of typical racing car conversion treatment one would expect.

The list goes on and appears quite involving, but such is the passion for this car that some were willing to convert their road cars themselves, including this French aficionado.