Eye on the prize.
Porsche’s successful history with motorsport is well documented and has helped them to make the iconic sports cars that they do today. Their investments in racing has put them on the map with the “Race on Sunday, buy on Monday” mentality, and it has paid off considerably. The newest racer from the German automaker is the 911 GT3 R – an FIA GT3-spec customer racing vehicle that is more efficient, lighter, aerodynamic, and powerful than its predecessor and sports a new set of BBS Wheels.
Providing the trust on the race track is a 4.0-liter, naturally-aspirated flat-six engine that is very similar to the unit found in the Porsche 911 GT3 RS road car. Depending on the restrictions employed by the racing series, the engine sends approximately 500 horsepower to each of the wide rear BBS Wheels. The engine is paired up with all the latest tech from dry sump lubrication and direct fuel injection as well.
Power is transferred to each of the rear BBS Wheels thanks to a sequential six-speed constant-mesh gearbox. The transmission doesn’t use the traditional lever-style shifter to change gears, instead requiring the driver to use the steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters for easier access and control.
The chassis is where the Porsche 911 GT3 R really shines. Here, a fully-adjustable McPherson strut setup is used while the rear features a fully-adjustable multilink independent setup. The entire ABS system was revised and works with the six-piston front and four piston rear calipers biting down on 380 mm and 372 mm steel discs, respectively. Center-locking BBS Wheels made from a single piece of aluminum alloy are worn and measure 18 x 12.0J up front with 18 x 13.0J at the rear for a massive footprint.
Part of making the Porsche 911 GT3 R more efficient than its predecessor involved cutting weight. Everything from the BBS Wheels to the body was optimized for weight. New aluminum-steel composite makes up much of the racer while a great deal of body components are constructed from lightweight CFRP. Even the windows are made from polycarbonate to cut weight instead of glass.
Other areas were also improved upon. The radiator was moved to the center of the front bumper to optimize cooling and the center of gravity while the wheelbase was extended by 8.3 cm. The same double-bubble roof as its road-going sibling is also a new point of emphasis as well.
The new Porsche 911 GT3 R will be available later this year for 429,000 Euros.
Source: Porsche
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