Roock Racing GmbH

Roock Racing GmbH was a German automobile racing team founded in 1984 by brothers Fabian and Michael Roock and based in Leverkusen. The organization became closely associated with Porsche competition cars, particularly heavily developed Porsche 911 GT2 models, and built its reputation in sports-car, endurance, and grand-touring competition. Its most successful period was the 1990s, when it progressed from Porsche one-make racing into major international GT championships and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The team’s early competitive foundation came through Porsche Carrera Cup and related Porsche series. In 1993, Roock achieved a major breakthrough at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, where Christian Fittipaldi, Uwe Alzen, and Jean-Pierre Jarier won the race. The organization also secured the Porsche Carrera Cup team title that year. Its drivers continued to perform strongly in Porsche competition: Uwe Alzen won the 1994 Porsche Supercup, while Alzen and Ralf Kelleners helped Roock achieve success in the ADAC GT Cup. Kelleners won the ADAC GT Cup championship in 1994 and repeated the title in 1995. Roock entered the BPR Global GT Series in 1996, the year it also made its first appearance at Le Mans. Its Porsche 911 won the GT2 class in the 1996 24 Hours of Le Mans with Ralf Kelleners, Guy Martinolle, and Bruno Eichmann. The result established Roock as a serious independent Porsche entrant at a time when GT endurance racing was becoming increasingly international and manufacturer-backed. In the inaugural 1997 FIA GT Championship season, Roock continued to score strongly, including four class victories and a shared GT2 championship outcome. At Le Mans that year, its Porsche finished second in GT2, driven by André Ahrlé, Andy Pilgrim, and Bruno Eichmann. In 1998, despite the growing competitiveness of the Chrysler Viper GTS-R, Roock again shared the GT2 championship and finished third in class at Le Mans with Claudia Hürtgen, Michel Ligonnet, and Robert Nearn. A defining feature of Roock’s racing identity was the extent of its in-house engineering. Under engineer Mike Gramke, the team substantially reworked its Porsche 911 GT2 cars rather than treating them as lightly modified factory racers. The 1998 specification reportedly used a 3.8-liter engine producing approximately 600 horsepower, a sequential Gemini gearbox, Thielert engine management, repositioned radiators and fuel tank, widened tracks, and a lighter but reinforced Matter safety tub. Aerodynamic and cooling revisions included revised airflow management and dedicated floor designs. The cars were described as among the lightest Porsche 993 GT2s built, with the 1998 Le Mans car weighing about 1,060 kilograms. Roock’s engineering work allowed its privateer Porsche entries to remain competitive against increasingly sophisticated rivals. The organization later expanded into the American Le Mans Series. Roock entered a Porsche GT2 in 2000 and introduced a Lola B2K/40 in the LMP675 prototype category for the 2001 season. The team narrowly missed the LMP675 championship and finished second in the team standings. Roock Racing ended its motorsport activities after the 2001 season. The brothers subsequently pursued separate automotive businesses: Michael Roock formed Roock Sport System GmbH in Germany, while Fabian Roock established Roock Autosport in the United States. Roock’s later automotive identity was therefore connected not only with racing but also with high-performance Porsche tuning. Roock Autosport, established in Atlanta in 1999, specialized in water-cooled Porsche models and developed road-going derivatives using the technical ideas and performance orientation associated with the racing program. Its Porsche RST 650, released in 2004, was a heavily modified 911 with a claimed 650 horsepower and was reviewed favorably by Car and Driver. In 2008, Roock announced limited-edition RST 600 LM and RST 650 models, with the former commemorating the team’s 1996 Le Mans GT2 victo…

Roock Racing was established in Leverkusen in 1984 by brothers Fabian and Michael Roock. The team initially built its profile through Porsche one-make and national GT competition before moving into larger international endurance and grand-touring programs. Its early-1990s results included a 1993 overall victory at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps and the Porsche Carrera Cup team championship. Uwe Alzen won the 1994 Porsche Supercup for Roock, and Ralf Kelleners won the ADAC GT Cup title in 1994 and 1995 in Roock-associated machinery. The team entered the BPR Global GT Series in 1996 and made its Le Mans debut that year. Its Porsche 911 captured the GT2 class, giving Roock its signature international result. The 1997 FIA GT Championship season brought four class wins and a shared GT2 championship outcome. Roock’s Le Mans Porsche finished second in GT2 in 1997 and third in 1998. These results were achieved against increasingly strong factory-supported and specialist opposition, including the Chrysler Viper GTS-R. Roock’s Porsche 911 GT2 cars were distinguished by extensive in-house development. Engineer Mike Gramke was associated with the technical program, which included engine, transmission, chassis, cooling, fuel-system, safety-cell, and aerodynamic changes. The 1998 specification used a 3.8-liter engine rated at about 600 horsepower, a sequential gearbox, revised engine management, widened tracks, and extensive weight reduction. The car’s reported 1,060-kilogram Le Mans weight made it exceptionally light for a 993-generation GT2. After its GT2 period, Roock entered the American Le Mans Series with a Porsche GT2 in 2000 and a Lola B2K/40 prototype in the LMP675 class in 2001. The prototype program finished second in the team standings, narrowly missing the championship. Roock Racing ceased its motorsport activities after the 2001 season. Fabian and Michael Roock then followed separate business paths, with Fabian creating Roock Autosport in Atlanta and Michael establishing Roock Sport System GmbH in Germany. Roock Autosport extended the brand into Porsche tuning. Its RST 650, released in 2004, was a 650-horsepower custom Porsche 911 that received contemporary automotive-media attention. In 2008, the company announced RST 600 LM and RST 650 limited editions, adding upgraded turbochargers, titanium exhausts, revised engine control, carbon-fiber clutch components, modified suspension, large brakes, lightweight wheels, and racing-style interiors. The RST 600 LM was presented as a tribute to the 1996 Le Mans victory. Roock Racing itself is best understood as a historic motorsport organization whose legacy continued through related Porsche performance businesses rather than through an ongoing major racing program.

1. 2008RST 600 LM announced

   Roock announces limited-edition RST models, including the Le Mans-inspired RST 600 LM.

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2. 2004RST 650 released

   Roock Autosport introduces the Porsche RST 650, a highly modified 911 with a claimed 650 horsepower.

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3. 2001LMP675 prototype program and end of racing activities

   The team fields a Lola B2K/40, finishes second in the LMP675 team standings, and ends its motorsport program after the season.

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4. 2000American Le Mans Series Porsche entry

   Roock enters a Porsche GT2 in the American Le Mans Series.

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5. 1999Roock Autosport established

   Fabian Roock establishes Roock Autosport in Atlanta as a water-cooled Porsche tuning business.

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6. 1998Le Mans podium and continued GT2 competitiveness

   Roock finishes third in GT2 at Le Mans and again shares the GT2 championship despite strong Chrysler Viper competition.

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7. 1997FIA GT success

   Roock records four GT2 class wins and shares the GT2 championship outcome in the inaugural FIA GT Championship season.

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8. 1996First Le Mans entry and GT2 victory

   Roock joins the BPR Global GT Series and wins the GT2 class at its first 24 Hours of Le Mans appearance.

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9. 1995Second ADAC GT Cup title

   Ralf Kelleners wins the ADAC GT Cup title again in Roock-associated competition.

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10. 1994Supercup and ADAC GT Cup success

    Uwe Alzen wins the Porsche Supercup, while Ralf Kelleners takes the ADAC GT Cup championship for Roock.

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11. 1993Spa victory and Carrera Cup team title

    Roock wins the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps and the Porsche Carrera Cup team championship.

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12. 1984Team founded

    Fabian and Michael Roock establish Roock Racing in Leverkusen, Germany.

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Independent, engineering-led Porsche racing and performance specialist focused on endurance competition, GT racing, and highly modified road-going Porsche automobiles.

• Roock Porsche 911 GT2GT racing car1996

  Roock’s principal international racing platform during the 1990s was a comprehensively modified Porsche 911 GT2. The team developed the cars in-house beyond standard factory GT2 specifications, applying engine, gearbox, cooling, fuel-system, chassis, safety-cell, weight-reduction, and aerodynamic changes. The 1998 version used a 3.8-liter engine with an approximately 600-horsepower output, sequential transmission, widened tracks, revised airflow, and a lightweight reinforced Matter tub. The platform delivered Roock’s 1996 GT2 Le Mans victory and further class podiums.

• Lola B2K/40Prototype racing car2001

  Roock used a Lola B2K/40 prototype in the LMP675 category of the American Le Mans Series during the 2001 season. The program represented a move beyond Porsche GT racing into lightweight endurance prototypes. Roock narrowly missed the class championship and finished second in the team standings before ending its racing activities after the season.

• Roock RST 650Porsche performance road car2004

  The RST 650 was a custom Porsche 911 developed by Roock Autosport and released in 2004. Its modified engine was rated at a claimed 650 horsepower, with a performance package including forced-induction upgrades, revised exhaust and engine management, suspension tuning, high-performance brakes, lightweight wheels, and a racing-oriented interior. The model was reviewed by Car and Driver and positioned as an extreme road-going interpretation of Roock’s competition philosophy.

• Roock RST 600 LMLimited-edition Porsche performance road car2008

  Announced in 2008, the RST 600 LM was designed as a road-car commemoration of Roock Racing’s 1996 GT2 class win at Le Mans. The package included upgraded turbochargers, titanium exhaust hardware, revised engine control, a carbon-fiber clutch, tuned suspension, large drilled and vented brakes, lightweight wheels, and a cabin with carbon-fiber trim, additional gauges, custom seats, and four-point harnesses.

• 2001End the Roock Racing motorsport programStrategy

  Following the 2001 American Le Mans Series season, the organization discontinued its active racing operations.

  What changed. Roock Racing ceased its motorsport activities, while the two founders pursued separate German and American automotive businesses.

  Aftermath. The brand’s subsequent public identity centered on Porsche tuning and specialist road-car development rather than a continuing factory-style race team.

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• 2000Enter the American Le Mans SeriesStrategy

  Roock sought to extend its endurance-racing activities into the newly established American Le Mans Series.

  What changed. The organization entered a Porsche GT2 in 2000 and then shifted to a Lola B2K/40 LMP675 prototype for 2001.

  Aftermath. The prototype program finished second in the team standings, but the organization ended its racing activities after the 2001 season.

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• 1996Expand into international GT and Le Mans competitionStrategy

  After establishing itself in Porsche one-make and national GT racing, Roock entered the BPR Global GT Series and targeted the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

  What changed. The team committed a Porsche 911 GT2 program to international GT racing and endurance competition.

  Aftermath. Roock won the GT2 class at Le Mans on its first appearance and became a prominent independent Porsche entrant.

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• 2008Roock announces limited-edition RST Porsche models

  Roock announced the RST 600 LM and RST 650, performance Porsche models incorporating racing-inspired hardware and commemorating the team’s Le Mans success.

  Product launch
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• 1996Roock Racing wins GT2 class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans

  Roock’s Porsche 911 won the GT2 category at Le Mans with Ralf Kelleners, Guy Martinolle, and Bruno Eichmann.

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1. Roock Racing
2. Roock corporate website