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Darn, just look at it - the thing looks like it's carefully molded out of poly resin! This new 911 GT3 R is for those customers who've got multiple supercars in their garage but for sentimental reasons, want something a bit more extreme and track-oriented, which is why Porsche has developed what is easily the hottest 911 yet.
The car will be a part of the GT3 series and is based on the current-generation 992 model. Porsche says it's all set for the 2023 season. With the new GT3 R, the prime focus was on enhancing drivability for drivers who can genuinely handle the temperament of these cars. The other goal was to fine-tune the handling of the race car for the teams that are going to work on them; this reduces the running cost.
The GT3 R is made available to customers in the United States and Canada through Porsche Motorsport North America. For obvious reasons, it won't come cheap at $567,210 (excluding extra options). After having learned a few vital lessons from the previous-generation GT3 R and a few other Porsche race-spec models, this car is all the more important now.
Porsche claims there are already a lot of interested buyers. Expect to see the 911 GT3 R as part of the 24 Hour of Le Mans, starting in 2024. The previous GT3 R was a tantalizingly hardcore race car, and the new one wants to better it, in the same way, a race driver's son would, his ol' pops.
The 911 GT3 R is silly fast alright, but that was not the main objective when putting it together. But they did, however, want customers to be able to drive the car fast, for as long as they could. So the solution was to make the new 4.2-liter engine's broader rev band usable, and stable, with great aerodynamics and lower loads on the rear tires.
Porsche 911 GT3 R Looks Exotic And Hardcore
The 911 GT3 R, with its LED headlights, lit up, looks like Darth Vader staring you in the face - so cool. After the 911 GT3 Cup, the GT3 R is the second race car to be based on the 992-generation 911. They've kept the body as light as possible, with a clever aluminum-steel composite design from the production GT3, although there are huge tweaks carried out, so it could be used in the 911 GT3 R.
It's hard to make out what isn't carbon fiber because that's mostly what seems visible - right from the front and rear lids, to the doors, side panels, the roof, and that menacing, tall wing at the back. The wheel arches, on the other hand, are made from aramid fibers.
Looking at the car, it's evident that Porsche Motorsport wanted functionality first, then form. Despite that, the car has shapes and aero bits that make you go bonkers - its desirability lies in its details. It had to be aerodynamically efficient - and it is, thanks to the elevated underbody ahead of the front axle, in sync with a smooth under-tray, and a rear diffuser - perhaps the rawest part of the car.
The result of the dedication toward aerodynamics is an increase in drag. The rear wing, like the production GT3 and the Cayman GT4 RS, features a swan-neck mount. Coming back to the headlights - they're unique because they bank on collimator technology, which was also made for the 963 prototypes. It is said to work like a magnifying glass, but the other way round. It illuminates the track, covering a vast surface area.
Porsche 911 GT3 R Interior Screams Race Car
The cockpit is as functional as the bodywork, and it's a place you'd love to spend time in if you've been starved of great cars all your life. As it turns out, the seat has been positioned more towards the center of the car - this allowed Porsche to improve upon the roll cage and meet the FIA's side impact protection norms.
Get in, find the right posture, and then start ogling at the adjustable steering and pedals, but remember, the fixed seat mount won't let you slide forwards and backward. The six-point harnesses are better than before because the tongues slide even faster into the clasp via special ramps - this helps save time during a driver change in the pit stops.
The steering wheel has been upgraded too and comprises elements that are also seen in the 911 GT3 Cup and 911 RSR race cars, like the 10.3-inch display and the multi-switch concept.
Porsche 911 GT3 R Engine Is Tilted Forward
Before we get to the point, let's get a few numbers out of the way. The engine, which is close to being the standard one on the production 911, is a water-cooled, flat-six unit with four-valve technology and direct fuel injection. The capacity of the engine sees an increase, taking it from 3,997cc to 4,194cc. The engine can now pump up to 565hp - and this means the 4.2-liter six-cylinder engine is a stonker!
The high-revving naturally aspirated engine sits pretty at the rear, which has proved to be a great place to have an engine if traction and braking are priorities. But here's the shocker: it's been tilted forwards by 5.5 degrees, giving more room for the underbody diffuser. Imagine the amount of reengineering required just to achieve that feat! That simply tilt means other components has to be moved as well.
The alternator and air conditioning compressor had to be moved ahead, lower down into a space in front of the engine and transmission. This plays a pivotal role in getting the weight balance of the GT3 R spot-on. Then there's the sequential 6-speed constant-mesh gearbox, derived again, from the 911 GT3 Cup race car.
Source: Porsche