(continued from above)
The new Porsche 911 GT3 Cup race car that will make its debut in the 2011
Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship is the latest edition of the best-selling
racing car of all time, having been built in a production series of more than
1,400 units since 1998.
The latest 911 GT3 Cup racer is based for the
first time on the 911 GT3 RS road car, with the weight of the motor sport
derivative reduced significantly versus the already lightweight road car. The
911 GT3 Cup is designed for racing in the many Porsche Carrera Cup Championships
around the globe and the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup that supports Grands Prix, and
was based previously on the 911 GT3.
As a consequence of being based on
the 911 GT3 RS, this is the first 911 GT3 Cup car to feature the 1.73-inch wider
body at the rear, which provides increased space for even larger wheels and
slick tires. Wider front wheel arches also clearly show that the front
wheels/tires are likewise bigger which, combined with other evolutionary
changes, has enabled the dynamic performance of the latest car to reach new
heights.
The Engine
Engine capacity is up by 0.2 liters
over the prior GT3 Cup car, with power output rising by 30 hp more than before.
Thus the rear-mounted 3.8-liter six-cylinder horizontally-opposed power unit
develops 450 hp, and drives the rear wheels through a sequential six-speed
manual gearbox and limited slip differential.
Emphasizing the Porsche
'track to road' philosophy which has guided the company since its beginnings in
1948, the power unit featured in the new 911 GT3 Cup is largely identical to the
production engine in the 911 GT3 RS - and offers the same output of 450 hp and
identical maximum engine speed of 8,500 rpm.
Lightweight and
Aerodynamic
The 911 GT3 Cup race car is designed by the same team
based in Weissach, near Stuttgart, Germany, responsible for the iconic Porsche
911 GT3 and RS road cars. In keeping with the lightweight, race-bred credentials
that are synonymous with Porsche RS models, the road car weighs 3020 lbs. As
befits its single-minded motor sport purpose, the 911 GT3 Cup race car tips the
scales at 2646 lbs, resulting in even sharper performance on the circuit.
Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Race Car: Review (2/2)
