Porsche 911 GT3 R Race Car Unveiled
The Porsche 911 GT3 R, Porsche’s newest entry in the GT3 racing class, was introduced during the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. The new 911 GT3 R, which is based on the current 992-generation of the 911 GT3, has a bigger engine, a more sophisticated aerodynamics package, and an optimised weight balance.
The new Porsche 911 GT3 R will participate in both the FIA WEC World Endurance Championship and the North American IMSA series once the latter adds a professional division for the GT3 class in 2024.
The GT3 R’s water-cooled, flat-six engine, which was previously bored out to 4.2 litres from the road car’s 4.0 litre, is based on the 992-generation 911 GT3. The rear wheels are powered by a 6-speed sequential constant mesh gearbox with paddle shifters located on the steering wheel. The engine is rated at 585 horsepower. According to Porsche, the engine is more suitable for gentleman racers.
Porsche also changed the 911 GT3 R’s suspension, heavily modelling it after the suspension design of the previous 911 RSR. It has a multi-link setup at the back and a double-wishbone setup up front. KW shock absorbers with five adjustment options are also present. Its wheelbase is 48mm longer than that of its predecessor. The 911 GT3 R also has AP Racing brake callipers, with front and rear disc sizes of 390mm and 370mm, respectively.
Porsche stated that it has prioritised increasing the driveability for both professional and gentleman drivers due to the Balance of Performance regulations (which permits competing vehicles to maintain parity by altering various settings). The automaker has also concentrated on refining the GT3-class racecar’s handling and lowering the operating expenses for the teams.
The large body package on the Porsche 911 GT3 R helps with aerodynamics and gives the racing its distinctive appearance. It has a gigantic diffuser in the middle that houses the exhaust and a massive rear wing that is as tall as the top. It also has huge air intakes right adjacent to the front and back wheel arches. 18-inch single-piece alloy wheels support it.
The GT3 R’s front end has a large splitter and two canards on either side of the bumper. Additionally, it receives LED headlights created for the 963 LMDh prototypes. The collimator technology used in these lights “functions like a magnifying glass, but in reverse.”
The 911 GT3 R’s racing seat is positioned more inwardly on the inside, which enables Porsche to deploy an upgraded roll cage and newly developed side impact protection from the FIA. A multi-switch design on a 10.3-inch LCD mounted behind the steering wheel was also adapted from the Le Mans class champion.
