The 996 GT3 R made its debut at the 1999 24 Hours of Le Mans. The Manthey-Racing and Champion Racing teams fielded the new racing car as unofficial representatives of the plant. The Manthey-Porsche of Uwe Alzen, Patrick Huisman and Luca Riccitelli won the class ahead of the Champion-Porsche of Dirk Müller, Bob Wollek and Bernd Mayländer.