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- Porsche has unveiled the ultimate track-day weapon based on their latest 911.
- The Porsche 911 GT3 R rennsport is the result of prioritising performance with no restrictions.
- For just short of R20 million, you can secure one of only 77 units of the Porsche 911 GT3 R rennsport.
- Scroll through the gallery of this spectacular machine further below.
Porsche has pulled the covers off the 911 GT3 R rennsport, a model designed for circuit use by sports car enthusiasts and collectors and limited to 77 units globally and. In doing so, they've redefined the idea of an ultimate track-day toy.
This limited-edition track tool resulted from a design process where engineers had the freedom to build the ultimate track car, free from any of the regulations governing motorsport and offering collectors and enthusiasts the ultimate iteration of the current 911 for their own enjoyment.
An aero-optimised carbon fibre body
The body features a distinctive design as it combines the powerful appearance of a high-performance competition car with modern design elements. At the same time, it took inspiration from Porsche's own history with a distinctively retro look, especially when viewed from the side.
The logical successor to the modern 935 has been given more width, and the length has been visually stretched while it sits very low on beautifully designed wheels. Eighteen-inch BBS rims with an exclusive racing design and the latest central locking technology are wrapped in Michelin tyres developed exclusively for this model.
Click on the arrows on the image below to scroll through the Porsche 911 GT3 R rennsport gallery:
Only the bonnet and the roof are shared with the standard GT3 R. All air intakes and aerodynamic aids are unique, and the wing mirrors landed up in the bin. A radically modified air intake and outlet panels of the front wheel arches underscore a more self-confident appearance. At the same time, the enormous rear wing dominates the back end and reminds one of the legendary Brumos 935/77. The level of downforce it creates is so immense that the wing uprights had to be bolstered with two additional supports.
A light bar consisting of fine LED strips now incorporates illuminated Porsche lettering. Below, a largely open rear apron dispenses with grille covers and panels in the interests of weight saving and allows for a clear view of components such as the exhaust system.
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Porsche will offer the 911 GT3 R rennsport ex works with a bodyshell painted in Agate Grey Metallic and bodywork in pure carbon. The car will also be available in seven colours, and there are three exclusive paintwork designs available that are new interpretations of iconic motorsport liveries, which include the "Rennsport Reunion" design based on traditional motorsport colours, "Flacht Design" featuring red and white and "Speed Icon Design" based on different shades of blue.
Functional single-seat interior
The interior comprises a rigid roll cage that permits the fitment of a single racing seat and the required safety equipment. The monitors of the two fender-mounted exterior cameras that are present in the place of mirrors blend harmoniously into the interior on each side. Special graphics for the splash screen of the central display and the limited-edition number on the instrument panel have been given the shapes of the racing car.
Extracting maximum performance
While the 911 GT3 R is based on Porsche's current GT3 racing car in principle, engineers could squeeze every drop of juice out of it given the lack of motorsport homologation or balance of performance restrictions.
The 4.2-litre six-cylinder boxer engine that can rev up to 9 400rpm, now boasts a peak power output of 456kW, up from 416kW in the regular 911 GT3 R. It has a claimed top speed of 317km/h. The water-cooled engine with direct petrol injection has been designed to run on E25 fuels which include bio-ethanol fuels and regeneratively produced e-fuels, making almost carbon neutral-operation possible.
A sequential six-speed constant-mesh gearbox transfers all this power to the rear wheels. Gear changes are via steering wheel paddles. The exhaust is free from restrictions, too, and offers an authentic and extremely emotional engine sound.
The chassis is basically identical to that of a GT3 racing car and features state-of-the-art double wishbone suspension up front and multi-link suspension at the rear. Damping is taken care of by five-way adjustable KW shock absorbers. Slowing everything down is an aluminium racing brake system from AP.
Several weight-saving measures are in place that result in the 911 GT3 R rennsport tipping the scales at 1 240 kilograms, which results in an incredible power-to-weight ratio of 0.5 horsepower per kilogram.
How much will it cost?
Porsche is only building 77 units of the 911 GT3 R rennsport, which will cost $1 046 000 or an estimated equivalent of R19 728 922 at the current exchange rate when this article was published.
