$1.6m Porsche 911 GT3 R rennsport unleashed

The new hard-core Porsche 911 GT3 R rennsport was unveiled at the Rennsport Reunion in California last weekend, with prices starting at $US1,046,000 ($A1.6m) for each of the 77 units Porsche will make.

Claimed to be a successor to the limited-run Porsche 935 that was launched back in 2018, the new Porsche 911 GT3 R rennsport is track-only and said to be heavily based on the latest GT3 R racer, although just the bonnet and roof panels carry over.

The rest of the track-focused 911’s full carbon-fibre body is bespoke.

Differences include a new front bumper that incorporates larger air intakes and two new cutaway front fenders that neatly contain the rear-view cameras.

At the rear is a huge whale tail that is said to have been inspired by the Brumos Porsche 935/77 and is combined with an enormous diffuser that promises for levels of downforce well beyond the FIA regulations-limited 911 GT3 race car.

Other differences from the GT3 R include the full-width LED tail-lights and illuminated PORSCHE lettering.

Underneath the rear boot lid is a development of the 4.2-litre flat six-cylinder that can now rev to a stratospheric 9400rpm and pump out 456kW – a big increase over the 412kW the GT3 R makes in competition trim.

Designed to run on both E25 biofuel and the car-maker’s own e-fuels, both the pistons and camshafts have been redesigned to allow the flat six to run a more advanced ignition and higher compression that bioethanol-based fuels allow.

Like the racer, the GT3 R rennsport gets a six-speed sequential manual transmission that channels all its power to the rear wheels. Porsche says the motorsport-derived gearbox features revised ratios that raises top speed by 20km/h to 316km/h.

Helping owners get the full racer experience, the GT3 R rennsport comes with the same five-way adjustable KW race dampers and gets double wishbone suspension up front with a multi-link rear.

Race-ready AP Racing brakes are standard, while Porsche has developed a bespoke Michelin Pilot Sport M S9 tyre that need less warming up than full race tyres.

As standard, the limited-run track tool comes with a large 117-litre fuel tank but, despite this, Porsche says it has kept total weight down to around 1240kg – although engineers do admit that’s with air-con delete, plus new seat coolers.

The 911 GT3 R rennsport comes with a stripped-out racer’s cabin with a full roll cage and an F1-style yoke steering wheel and a full digital instrument cluster.

Just seven colours are available, including Star Ruby and Signal Orange, although all versions ride on the same 18-inch BBS motorsport rims.

Three special liveries are also available: Rennsport Reunion Design, which is inspired by Laguna Seca’s Corkscrew; Flacht Design, named after the town where Porsche Motorsport is based; and Speed Icon Design that’s said to emphasise the 911’s width.

Out the box, the 911 GT3 R rennsport gets an unsilenced race exhaust system with twin centre exit pipes. However, Porsche Motorsport says it will also offer two further quieter options that come fitted with both silencers and catalytic converters for circuits with noise restrictions.

“The new Porsche 911 GT3 R rennsport offers the experience of driving a 911-based racing car in what is probably the most primal form,” said Porsche Motorsport boss Thomas Laudenbach.

“It gives you goose bumps whenever you look at it and it combines the finest motorsport technology with a design language that is typical of Porsche. With its exceptional performance, the 911 GT3 R rennsport makes our brand’s history both tangible and audible.”

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