Porsche North America has unveiled its latest generation of GT race car, the 911 GT3 R. With a bigger engine, better aerodynamic performance, and optimized vehicle balance, the new car is intended to be the brand’s most useable 911 race car to date. The car will compete in the GT3 category, which is the top GT category in North America with the IMSA WeatherTech SportCar Championship and in Europe with the FIA World Endurance Championship. That means that the car will be eligible to take part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time, and that has had an important role in defining the design remit of the car.
At the center of the car’s performance is the naturally-aspirated flat-six engine. Based on the 992 911‘s engine,
the main improvement is in displacement, which increased five percent, from
3,997 cc to 4,194 cc. The extra size gives it a maximum output of 558 hp. The main reason for the growth, though, was to make the power and
torque bands more useable to suit a wider range of drivers at different
experience levels. The engine is placed, as you’d expect, in the rear of the
911 GT3 R, but it has been tilted forward by 5.5 degrees to create more space
for the rear diffuser. Auxiliary components have been moved forward and down
into the space in front of the engine, which has had a positive effect on
weight balance.
Shifting is handled by a sequential
six-speed contest-mesh gearbox that was derived from the 911 GT3 Cup race car.
Drivers select gears with paddles behind the steering that control an
electronic shift drum actuator for speedy and precise gear changes. The
suspension was also modified, starting at the front with state-of-the-art
double wishbones and at the back with a multi-link design. The shock absorbers
come from KW and are designed to be easily adjustable. Set-up modifications can
be done with shims that do not require time-consuming re-alignment of the
suspension after every adjustment. All of which has been done in the name of
making the race car easier to use.
The positioning of the central pivot
points at the front axle, meanwhile, allows for more space for the aerodynamic
concept. As with the 911 RSR, the 911 GT3 R has an elevated underbody that
allows more clean air to hit the diffuser and reduces the pitch sensitivity of
the car and allows for more downforce without adding any drag. The wheelbase,
meanwhile, has been extended to reduce the loads on the rear tires and improve
their consistency over long racing stints. Aluminum monobloc brake calipers and
discs are provided by AP. The 390 mm front discs are slotted and made of steel
and clamped by six-piston calipers. The rears, meanwhile, are 370 mm across and
get four-piston calipers. Almost all of the body panels are made of carbon
fiber to keep weight down, while the wheel arches are made of aramid fibers.
Like the auxiliary components, the driver
has also moved closer to the middle of the 911 GT3 R. That allowed Porsche to
add an ergonomic seat and an improved roll cage for the newly developed FIA
side impact mandates. The cockpit has features first proved in other forms of
motorsport, like the 911 GT3 Cup car’s 10.3-inch display and a multi-switch
concept.
Porsche says it also worked to make operating the car cheaper for racing teams. It will be ready for the 2023 racing season and North American customer teams will be able to buy the car through Porsche Motorsports North America at a price of US$ 567,210.
