The fact that a market exists for something like this is both amazing and incredibly awesome.
I hope a few of these actually make it out to the track instead of just being stored somewhere.
Photography Courtesy Porsche
Without the constraints of following FIA regulations, Porsche created the 911 GT3 R rennsport. How far did the German automaker go with it? As far as bodywork, “only the hood and roof carry over” from the GT3 R, if that gives you any idea.
Porsche debuted the limited edition rennsport during, you guessed it, Rennsport Reunion 7 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. The company called it “one of the most extreme and focused 911s ever.”
Exterior
The company’s engineers redesigned the entire aerodynamic package of the GT3 R. Yes, they kept the hood and roof, as well as most of the front end. However, they went as far as deleting the exterior mirrors and replacing them with fender-mounted cameras to provide visual inputs. Engineers went with a big rear wing, which required two additional vertical supports to hold it up under the high loads it generates. And who needs grille covers? They done away with them to save weight.
Interior
This is a single-seater, with safety still up to FIA standards. Note the monitors for the exterior cameras.
Powertrain
With no BoP restrictions, the rennsport ups the power of the naturally aspirated 4.2-liter six-cylinder from 557 horsepower to 611. That’s approximately 145 horsepower per liter, for those doing the math. The engine contains pistons and camshafts designed specifically for the rennsport. It can run conventional gasoline or E25 fuels.
The six-speed sequential uses the same fourth, fifth and sixth gears at the Daytona setup for the GT3 race car. However, it attains a top speed of roughly 12 mph faster than the GT3 R.
Porsche offers an unmuffled version of the rennsport, “with centrally positioned twin tailpipes offers an authentic and extremely emotional engine sound.”
Chassis, Suspension and Other Assorted Features
The rennsport carries the same double-wishbone suspension from the GT3. Porsche Motorsport delivers the KW five-way adjustable shocks with a base setup that you can adjust with additional shims.
It comes with exclusive racing tires from Michelin. Porsche said the rubber features “improved warm-up and drivability compared to the Michelin Pilot Sport M S9.”
The AP aluminum monobloc racing brakes come with pads that have titanium backing plates, which reduce unsprung weight by 2.2 pounds. The 30.9-gallon safety fuel tank also saves 2.2 pounds over the previous version used on the GT3 R. Engineers eliminated the A/C to cut further weight, but added ventilation for the driver provided by a “seat cooling concept.”
Porsche hopes to attain a 2734-pound weight, which would deliver a 4.5-pound-per-horsepower ratio.
Availability and Pricing
Porsche will make only 77 examples of the 911 GT3 R rennsport. It’ll be offered in seven colors and three designs. As you can imagine, this type of car might go for a decent sum. Porsche Motorsport will sell the rennsport at $1,046,000. You can register your interest here.
The fact that a market exists for something like this is both amazing and incredibly awesome.
I hope a few of these actually make it out to the track instead of just being stored somewhere.
I'd love to hear that engine turning 9000+rpm live.
With no BoP restrictions, the rennsport ups the power of the naturally aspirated 4.2-liter six-cylinder from 557 horsepower to 611.
Porsche Motorsport will sell the rennsport at $1,046,000.
I saw a thread about this one in reddit. Great car, but will probably just be an investment/garage queen for the most part. Its obvious your average person won't be able to afford it, much less see one around.
QuikMcshifterson said:The fact that a market exists for something like this is both amazing and incredibly awesome.
I hope a few of these actually make it out to the track instead of just being stored somewhere.
I believe the method is to hire a pro to take your car out and make noisy noises at Rennsport or some other high profile track day.
I think the development of this car says a lot about how digital the design process has become, most of the engineering would have been done on the computer before any parts were made. No need to test the aero, CFD and FEA tells us how it'll work. The new pistons and camshafts were designed by removing whatever constraints Porsche had decided were important for GT3, such as a wide powerband (you can see some of those design decisions in this article about the race car). This is very cool.
So Porsche has the GT3 R rennsport and Ford has the Mustang GTD.
Who's next?
In reply to Colin Wood :
At $1 million, the rennsport makes the GTD seem like a bargain at $300K. Crazy.
In reply to J.A. Ackley :
That's because this is based on a $550k car and the GTD is based on a $30k car :)
I don't think price really matters to anyone buying one of these. Nobody's really going to cross-shop. They'll both appreciate, but the 911 will always be more valuable because it's a 911 and it's got a deeper international competition pedigree.
In reply to Keith Tanner :
Agreed. I was just thinking that one could build a race car from scratch with more power, better handling and less weight easily and for much less money. At some point you are just paying for the name and heritage.
In reply to J.A. Ackley :
There's also reliability and serviceability . Porsche does know how to make a really effective race car, and it's a lot more than just power/weight. But it would be interesting to cross-shop things like LMP3 cars, which are about a quarter million.
I don't think Ford has released the price of the real Mustang GT3 yet, have they?
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