Another class victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans Classic:
1st place in 2025
Shortly before heading to France, the 1968 Porsche 911 S T/R is in top condition for the race.
In the first week of July, it was that time again:
Every two years, Le Mans hosts the world's biggest race for classic racing cars. The 24 Hours of Le Mans Classic lasts four days. Porsche models from 1953 to 1981 compete in the race.
Roock Sportsystem from Leverkusen took to the grid in 1968 with a 911 S T/R in Grid 5, driven by Michael Roock, Arndt Ellinghorst and Helmut Hutter. This 911 had already competed with great
success in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1969 and 1970.
In 2025, Friday was all about qualifying practice. On this day, Gérard Larrousse, Emanuele Pirro, Jürgen Barth and many others were available for autographs in the village. An unforgettable
moment for many fans.
This 911 S T/R already took part in the legendary race in 1969 and 1970.
The conditions this year were very difficult:
The participants battled with darkness and heavy rain. The Roock Sportsystem Porsche started the race in 61st position.
In the end, a flawless race was rewarded with an excellent 21st place overall and 1st place in the GTS class in Grid 5.
Roock's record at Le Mans is impressive: in 30 years, they have achieved five class victories with Porsche racing cars.
- 1996 993 GT2
- 2016 911 RSR 3.0
- 2018 911 RSR 3.0
- 2022 911 ST
- 2025 911 S T/R.
We are already looking forward to 2027.
From Victory to Victory
History repeats itself:
Michael Roock and Uwe Alzen win class at Le Mans again
It has been 20 years since Roock Racing from Leverkusen managed a class victory at the world-famous 24 Hours of Le Mans - at the time, the team led by brothers Michael and Fabian Roock earned international recognition for it. Last weekend, Michael Roock (56) repeated this success: At the "24H Le Mans Classic", the Rhinelander drove to first place in the GTS class together with motorsport warhorse Uwe Alzen (48). Their racing car, a Porsche 911 RSR, had already raced at Le Mans 40 years ago. At that time, however, it had to pull out of the race due to a technical defect - four decades later, this problem has now been remedied ...
"Driving at Le Mans at night and flying towards the chicanes of the famous 'Hunaudières' straight at 260 km/h, for example, is of course an incredible experience," enthused Michael Roock days later.
"The 13.6-kilometre track is legendary, but also quite tricky - I had to get used to the back part in particular, with its super-fast sections. Finding the correct line in the 'Porsche' curves, for example, is quite difficult. At some point, I drove in a pack with four other RSRs, which helped."
Of course, Roock also got helpful tips for fast laps from Alzen. The racing pro joined Roock Racing in the early 1990s, became Porsche Supercup champion together with the Leverkusen team in 1994 and ADAC GT Cup champion in 1995. The Betzdorf native is very familiar with Le Mans: Among other things, Alzen can look back on a second place in the overall standings of the 1998 24-hour race, back then as a Porsche works driver in the 911 GT1.
Roock Racing took on the endurance classic for the first time in 1996, and achieved a surprise success straight away: Ralf Kelleners (D), Bruno Eichmann (CH) and Guy Martinolle (F) secured
victory in the GT2 class in the Porsche 911 GT2 - no one had expected that.
The 911 RSR, with which Roock and Alzen have now contested the 24H Le Mans Classic, is one of only 49 examples of this type and was designed as a thoroughbred racing car.
In 1975, the three-litre bolide had already won the European GT Championship in the hands of Hartwig Bertrams and Clemens Schickentanz. In 1976, the Gelo Racing Team from Cologne entered it again in Le Mans with Schickentanz at the wheel. However, damage to the drive shaft meant an early retirement after 74 laps.
Since their entry to the circuit racing in 1990, ROOCK won numerous races and championships all over the world. Here is an overview of their most prestigious achievements:
2001:
2nd place, American Le Mans Series - LMP 675
Debut in this category
2000:
2nd place, American Le Mans Series - Porsche GT2
First full season of ROOCK Racing in the American Le Mans Series
1999:
Winner, 24 Hours of Daytona - Porsche GT2
1998:
2nd place , FIA GT World Championship GT2
3rd place, in the GT2 class, 24 Hours of Le Mans, Porsche 911 GT2
1997:
Vice World Champion FIA GT World Championship (GT2)
Winner 24 Hours of Daytona, Porsche 911 GT2
2nd and 3rd place in GT2 class, 24 Hours of Le Mans, Porsche 911 GT2
1996:
World Champion FIA GT-WM (GT2)
FIA GT World Championship runner-up (overall classification)
GT2 class winner, 24 Hours of Le Mans, Porsche 911 GT2
1995:
Winner ADAC GT Cup, Porsche 911 GT2
1994:
Champion European Porsche Supercup
Winner ADAC GT Cup
Winner "1000 km of Interlagos", Porsche 911 RSR
1993:
Winner German Porsche Carrera Cup
Winner "1000 km of Suzuka", Porsche 911 RSR
1992:
2nd place German Porsche Carrera Cup
Winner "24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps", Porsche 911 RS
1991:
10th place German Porsche Carrera Cup
1990:
Foundation of ROOCK Racing, 5th place Porsche Carrera Cup
ROOCK is considered the most successful customer team of Porsche of the 1990s. It headed from victory to victory in different of the manufacturer’s one-make series as well as in the FIA GT World Championship.