The Porsche 911 has been destined for competition ever since Butzi drew the first sketches back in the 1960s. Up until recently, the fiercest of the factory built Porsche racers was the 911 GT3 Cup S, a car that found home at FIA sanctioned races around the world and warming up the crowds on a Grand Prix weekend. However the German automaker has unveiled the new Porsche GT3->ke617 R, at the 2010 Autosport International show in Birmingham, England. An in house motor sport special for the 2010 racing season, the GT3 R is based on international FIA GT3 regulations and is powered by a four liter six cylinder boxer engine that has a maximum output of 480 HP and shifted through a six speed sequential gearbox.
As part of the new GT3 R's friendlier approach to competitive driving, the new car comes with features like an anti lock braking system, traction control and e-gas with a built in throttle blip function to make sure that the tail happy Porsche's back end not only stays planted when changing gears, but that the shifts will be smooth, crisp and on point every time. Meanwhile standard race car apparel like a fully adjustable suspension from SACHS and flared wheel arches to house the wide rubber and a set of front and rear diffusers to make sure that the car stays in permanent contact with the track.
Press release after the jump.
2010 Porsche 911 GT3 R
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- Model: 2010 Porsche 911 GT3 R
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Press release
Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, keeps the focus on customer racing during the 2010 motorsport season. The new Porsche 911 GT3 R, delivered to customers ready-to-race, replaces the 911 GT3 Cup S in Porsche Motorsports’ model range. The 911 GT3 R will be raced in series based on international FIA GT3 regulations. In developing the vehicle, the emphasis was placed on improving driveability and making handling easier. The 911 GT3 R features a four-litre six-cylinder boxer engine delivering 480 hp (353 kW). A six-speed sequential gearbox transmits the power to the rear axle. The new 911 GT3 R celebrates its world debut on 14th January 2010 at the Racing Car Show Autosport International in Birmingham (Great Britain).
“Since we first announced our intention to launch the 911 GT3 R, demand has been huge,” says Uwe Brettel, Head of Motorsport Sales. “The number of GT3 R vehicles we had planned for 2010 is almost sold out.” From spring 2010, customer teams around the world will receive their new vehicles. The basic price is 279,000 Euro plus national VAT.
The development of the 1,200 kg lightweight 911 GT3 R is based on the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup presented in September 2009 for one-make cup racing. Thanks to a 0.2-litre increase in engine capacity, the GT3 R delivers 30 hp more than its Cup pendant. Both race vehicles are based on the extra-wide body of the street-legal 911 GT3 RS.
An anti-lock brake system (ABS), traction control and an e-gas with “throttle-blip” function help pilots familiarise themselves quicker to the new GT3 race vehicle compared to its predecessor, also making it easier for ambitious amateur racers to get used to the car. The flared wheel arches front and rear show the wider track compared to the previous model. The underbody of the vehicle is completely covered and features a rear diffuser. Compared to the forerunner model, the adjustment range of the rear wing has been increased.
The highly developed race suspension can be extensively adjusted: At the front are height-adjustable McPherson struts with variable SACHS two-way shock absorbers and double coil springs (main and auxiliary). At the rear, the GT3 R features a rigidly mounted sub-frame with a height-adjustable multi-arm axle, as well as adjustable SACHS two-way shock absorbers and double coil springs.
