- 992 GT3-R Racer, Street RS Both Focused on Drivability, Pace
Porsche has been busy on the top end of its 911 GT3 range over the past week. First it teased the world about its next 992 series GT3 RS, confirming that the car will break cover on 17 August. And then a few days later, it trotted out the all-new 992-based 911 GT3-R race car in the build-up to the weekend’s Spa 24 Hour race.
911 GT3-R Racer ‘Faster for Longer’
First, what we know for sure. The new GT3-R racer based on the 992 will be ‘faster for longer’, according to project manager Sebastian Golz. “Our task was less about making the new 911 GT3-R even faster – GT3 racing’s Balance of Performance cancels out this advantage,” Golz points out. “For us, it is primarily about our customers being able to drive the racing car fast for longer. “This requires durability, and that’s why we focused predominantly on improved drivability.”
The 992 GT3-R is powered by a larger-capacity 4.2 litre version of Porsche’s normally aspirated boxer-six engine, versus its 4-litre predecessor. Producing 9% more torque at lower engine speeds, that’s accompanied by around 5% more twist at higher revs. The engine has been tilted 5.5 degrees up at the rear to improve weight distribution and to also make room for a larger rear diffuser.
The new car also has a pronounced aerodynamic step under its nose of the thanks to the removal of part of its front boot structure. That allows revised front-end aerodynamics and cleaner airflow underneath the car towards the rear diffuser. Together with a longer wheelbase, “this has created more stable and constant aerodynamics and lower loads on the rear tyres”, according to Golz. Porsche also suggests that the new car costs 10% less to run.
911-R is Le Mans Ready
Expected to debut at a Nurburgring Long-distance round later this year, GT3-R will be homologated for January’s Daytona 24 Hour. The new 911-R will also be eligible for the Le Mans 24 Hours from 2024. That is in line with the World Endurance Championship adopting a GT3 to replace the current GTE class. The new Porsche 911-R will cost a cool R10-million.
Coinciding with the arrival of the new 911 GT3-R, Porsche has teased its latest GT3 ahead of its launch in three weeks. Porsche’s images of a naked black car with show a giant swan-neck mount rear wing. There’s also a deeper, more aggressive front apron, more pronounced front hood vents and aero guide vanes on the roof. Spy shots reveal a large rear diffuser spread across the car’s width. Perhaps thanks to its engine being raised to the rear like the race GT3-R?
It remains to be seen whether the RS gains the R’s extra 200cc. But Porsche has confirmed that approximately 375 kW is ‘ideal for track days’. Porsche GT Director Andreas Preuninger explains that, “The responsive, high-revving normally aspirated four-litre boxer-six engine in the new 911 RS is even more optimised for track use than its predecessors. “That’s why we focused primarily on aerodynamics and chassis questions in the development of the new 911 GT3 RS.”
GT3 RS Will Chase R4M, Sub-3 to 100
Also expect a retuned the seven-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission, aluminium sports brake callipers. With a Ceramic Composite set-up available as an option. Other options should include losing the rear seats for a roll cage for the carbon and Alcantra-clad bucket seat cabin. That will get a sports steering wheel and GT-specific digital cockpit. Expect zero to 100 km/h times to challenge the 3 second barrier and pricing to flirt with the R4-million mark.
