After many months of teasing, Porsche has finally revealed their 'road legal racecar' - the 911 GT3 RS. Deliveries in Mzansi will take place from early 2023 with the high-performance sportscar being priced from R4,153,000.
Engine and Power
A high-performance sportscar requires a high-performing powertrain and in this case, the 911 GT3 RS is powered by a high-revving 4.0-litre 6-cylinder naturally aspirated engine which produces a hefty 386kW, paired to a 7-speed PDK (only a PDK derivative is available). This propels the sportscar from standstill to 100km/h in just 3.2 seconds, with a top speed of 296km/h.
Stopping power is made possible thanks to aluminium monobloc fixed-caliper brakes which each have six pistons. The brake discs on the front axle measure 408mm in diameter. The rear axle brake discs however measure 380mm in diameter and include four piston fixed-caliper brakes.
Customers will have the ability to specify their vehicle with the optionally available Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes which are comprised of 410mm discs on the front axle and 390mm discs on the rear axle. Standard fitment includes forged light-alloy center-lock wheels and a staggered fitment of tires which measure 275/35 R20 up front and 335/30 R21 at the rear for enhanced mechanical grip.
Adjustable Track Suspension
Due to a great deal of airflows on the new sportscar, a teardrop-shaped profile is what makes up the design of the components of the double-wishbone front axle. These aerodynamically efficient links result in increased downforce on the front axle by around 40kg when the vehicle is travelling at top speed. A result of the 29mm wider track over the 911 GT3 are the double-wishbone front axle links which are also longer.
Suspension engineers have reduced pitching under braking by a great deal in order to ensure balance between both axles when braking from high speeds. The front ball joint of the lower trailing arm on the front axle has been set lower. Also receiving adjustment is the multi-link rear axle with spring rates which have been modified.
Three driving modes are available to choose from in the 911 GT3 RS, namely: Normal, Sport and Track, with the latter seeing individual adjustment in the basic settings. Also adjustable, via a rotary controls on the steering wheel, is the rear differential. The steering wheel includes four rotary controls and a button for the Drag Reduction System. A track screen, which is familiar from the 911 GT3 is included and may at the touch of a button, bring up essential driver information by reducing the two 7.0-inch digital displays. Also taken from the 911 GT3 are the gear shift indicators which are located to the left and right of the analogue tachometer.
Powerful Aerodynamics
The 911 GT3 RS is unmistakably a track-ready vehicle design-wise. Up front, the high-performance sportscar no longer makes use of the familiar three-radiator layout as seen on previous models. Instead, it makes use of one large, angular and centered radiator which is housed in what would be the luggage compartment in other 911 models. This results in the space which is freed up on the sides to be used to integrate active aerodynamic elements.
To achieve 409kg of downforce 200km/h, the 911 GT3 RS includes continuously adjustable wing elements located in the front and on the large two-part rear wing, along with other aerodynamic measures. The DRS is a first-ever to be fitted to a production Porsche vehicle. The purpose of the system is to achieve low drag and high speeds on straight portions of a track and this is done by the DRS allowing the wings to be flattened out within an operating window. During emergency braking, the airbrake function is activated by setting the front and rear wing elements to maximum.
Another first-ever for a Porsche production vehicle is the upper edge of the rear wing being higher than the vehicles roof. Also noteworthy is the removal of a front spoiler up front, with a front splitter opted for instead. Side blades direct air outwards in an accurate fashion, with ventilation for the front wheel arch provided via louvred openings in the front wings. Inlets found behind the front wheels serve the purpose to reduce dynamic pressure in the wheel arches. Air coming from the centered radiator flows out via the large nostrils on what used to be the front boot lid, with the fins on the roof of the vehicle directing air outwards to ensure cool intake temperatures in the rear.
Lightweight Construction
The 911 GT3 RS has been built with lightweight materials, with the doors, front wings, roof and front lid all made from CFRP. Lightweight CFRP is also in the interior such as on the standard full bucket seats. The use of these lightweight materials results in a kerb weight of just 1,450kg for the 911 GT3 RS.
Clubsport and Weissach Packages
As standard, the high-performance sportscar features black leather, Racetex and carbon-weave finishes in the interior. Available at no extra cost to customers is the Clubsport package includes a steel rollover bar, a fire extinguisher and six point seat belts for the driver.
Available at an extra cost is the Weissach package which includes a carbon-weave finish for the front lid, roof, parts of the rear wing and the upper shell of the side mirrors. Further enhancement of the driving dynamics is made possible thanks to the front and rear anti-roll bars, rear coupling rods and shear panel on the rear axle all made of CFRP. The Weissach package also includes PDK shift paddles with motorsport-derived magnet technology which results in more dynamic gear changes. An optional extra available on the Weissach package are magnesium forged wheels which save an additional 8kg.
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