Porsche wants to return in full throtlle to FIA GT championship and unveiled a new model designed for this competition. It is called Porsche 911 GT3 R and is based on the street version popular 911 GT3 RS. The new generation 911 GT3 R can be ordered starting this month, but first deliveries will arrive in December 2015. Price is hefty at 429.000 euros plus taxes.
To compete in FIA GT Championship, the car suffered intense modifications. It still features the distinctive double-bubble roof and the wheelbase had been lengthened by 8.3 centimetres compared to the previous generation. It also weighs less, because the roof, front cover and fairing, wheel arches, doors, side and tail sections as well as the rear cover are made of particularly light carbon-fibre composite material (CFRP). All windows – and for the first time even the windscreen – consist of polycarbonate.
Powering the new 911 GT3 R is a cutting-edge four-litre flat-six unit which is largely identical to the high-performance production engine of the road-legal 911 GT3 RS. Direct petrol injection, which operates at pressures up to 200 bar, as well as variable valve timing technology are used for fuel efficiency. Power from the rear engine is transferred to the 310 mm rear wheels via a Porsche sequential six-speed constant-mesh gearbox.
The aerodynamics of the 911 GT3 R also follows the example of the road car. The distinctive wheel arch air vents on the front fairings increase downforce at the front axle. Measuring two metres in width by 40-centimetres in depth, the rear wing lends aerodynamic balance.
The brake system of the 911 GT3 R also underwent further modifications and uses on the front axle some six-piston aluminium monobloc racing brake callipers, combined with ventilated and grooved steel brake discs with a diameter of 380 millimetres. Fitted at the rear axle are four-piston callipers and discs measuring 372 millimetres.
The capacity of the further-reinforced FT3 safety fuel cell was increased by twelve litres to now hold 120 litres, with the tank now featuring a fuel cut-off safety valve.
