RE: New GT3 Cup car

Monday 10th December 2012

New GT3 Cup car

991-based 911 racer revealed, no mention in press release that it uses 'old' engine



Hot on the heels of confirmation that Manthey Racing will run two 991-based 911 RSRs at the 2013 Le Mans Porsche has thrown the covers off the 991's GT3 Cup race car too. This will make its racing debut in the 2013 Supercup series.

GT3 roadcar will take its inspiration from this
GT3 roadcar will take its inspiration from this
181,200 euros (plus local VAT) will get you into the latest generation of Porsche's hugely successful customer race car, 2,395 of which it has sold over the years. It also, of course, forms the basis of the much-loved road going GT3 variants, Porsche confirming as much and saying this is the "motorsports version of the future 911 GT3."

Is it though? As Chris Harris discussed with Porsche R&D boss Wolfgang Hatz, the 991 RSR will use a 3.8-litre version 'old' Mezger flat-six and though Porsche doesn't say as much in the press release a spokesman told us the Cup car will retain a version of this engine too. It gains 10hp over the previous Cup car, delivering 460hp at 7,500rpm and, for the first time, shifting via wheel-mounted paddles. Traditionally roadgoing GT3s have also used Mezger-based engines, that clear bloodline to the race cars just one of the reasons they're so prized by geeks like us. One that'll be broken if the roadgoing GT3 ends up using a version of the 991's DFI flat-six, souped up or not.

New racer to debut in the Supercup series
New racer to debut in the Supercup series
At this stage it's an official 'no comment' from Porsche on the matter so we'll cross that one when we come to it. And meanwhile hear what works driver Timo Bernhard has to say about the new racer. "The new 911 GT3 Cup is much easier to drive at the limit," he says. "The new axle geometry is enormously positive for the handling. Apart from that the new Cup 911 is great fun to drive."

Though few details are supplied about the suspension Porsche does reveal that the new Cup car's tyres are wider than before - plus 20mm at the front and plus 10mm at the rear - and this, combined with the wider front track of the 991 platform, would indicate grip levels have increased. Brakes have also been upgraded and there's an all-new safety cage, seat and roof cutaway for in-car medical attention and/or driver extraction if it's been a really big one.

 

 

Author
Discussion

nightwalker

Original Poster:

3,534 posts

186 months

Monday 10th December 2012
quotequote all
Mixed feelings on the looks, the front looks great but the back just looks a little... odd somehow.

Look at the camber on the wheels though smile

V8KSN

4,711 posts

183 months

Monday 10th December 2012
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Looks lovely!

If the road going GT3 uses a DFi engine, that will surely mean the old (997 shape) GT3's will go up in value!

As a side note, the rear wing looks a little too big!

pthelazyjourno

1,848 posts

168 months

Monday 10th December 2012
quotequote all
nightwalker said:
Mixed feelings on the looks, the front looks great but the back just looks a little... odd somehow.

Look at the camber on the wheels though smile
Camber looks crazy aggressive, especially on the front.

Agreed there's something a little off about the looks.

Contigo

3,113 posts

208 months

Monday 10th December 2012
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That reminds me, I need to buy the Missus a new ironing board!

loudlashadjuster

5,078 posts

183 months

Monday 10th December 2012
quotequote all
Think it's just the paint job accentuating the rear haunches.

Still looks like a weapon though. Nice.

Chunkychucky

5,932 posts

168 months

Monday 10th December 2012
quotequote all
Not keen on this new shape of 911, and those photos don't do much for the rear end IMO. Plus the side-on shot really emphasises the size of the thing, looks like a LWB 997.2 or something.

k-ink

9,070 posts

178 months

Monday 10th December 2012
quotequote all
Does this have electric steering?

M@1975

591 posts

226 months

Monday 10th December 2012
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Dear Lord, so much want!

Oddball RS

1,757 posts

217 months

Monday 10th December 2012
quotequote all
It needed to evolve for racing, it needed to be wider, but i'm +1 on the odd looks, just doesn't look as 'right' not that that matters. Odd engine choice, back to the old gen engine but also not using it in 4.0 form for the RSR??

LaurasOtherHalf

21,429 posts

195 months

Monday 10th December 2012
quotequote all
think it's more to do with the grey paint cheveron on the back that makes it look a little more hunch-backed than it is

tuffer

8,849 posts

266 months

Monday 10th December 2012
quotequote all
Large format desktop picture please......And a spot on the waiting list.

Disco You

3,679 posts

179 months

Monday 10th December 2012
quotequote all
That camber on the front! eek

V8 FOU

2,970 posts

146 months

Monday 10th December 2012
quotequote all
Roof cutaway?
So, you are GOING TO CRASH, then?

Ven you uzelez englisher race zis car you vill crash,ja?

Dazed & Confused

202 posts

203 months

Monday 10th December 2012
quotequote all
Rear view - everything below the badge looks really 1980s. It also looks like it's stuck on wrong, and is leaning forward slightly.

Hard to explain, but just looks... odd.

Also, is it just me, or does the car look really rather big?

Edited by Dazed & Confused on Monday 10th December 12:01

WCZ

10,483 posts

193 months

Monday 10th December 2012
quotequote all
Chunkychucky said:
Not keen on this new shape of 911, and those photos don't do much for the rear end IMO. Plus the side-on shot really emphasises the size of the thing, looks like a LWB 997.2 or something.
+1

the rear looks terrible

MadRob6

3,592 posts

219 months

Monday 10th December 2012
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The rear looks a bit odd without the trademark engine cover vents.

rlw

3,321 posts

236 months

Monday 10th December 2012
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fk me - this horrible looking thing isn't going to hurt Mk1 values is it. Could they have made it look worse?

robinessex

11,038 posts

180 months

Monday 10th December 2012
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Oh look, another 911 !! How many variations does that make then ?

wst

3,494 posts

160 months

Monday 10th December 2012
quotequote all
I think the weird bit is the bit just behind the rear window, the way it sort of humps over into a dip then flicks up just before the shutline... and the squinty brakelights... adding up to a strange arse.

I hope the road GT3 has that wing, if not standard, at least as an option...

Skylinecrazy

13,986 posts

193 months

Monday 10th December 2012
quotequote all