Porsche 911 GT3 R Debuts At Autosport International/Birmingham Motor Show

Porsche 911 GT3 R - big wing, wide body, will race for food

Tempting car nerds the world over into selling their livers and souls, the Porsche 911 GT3 R made its public debut at the Autosport International Show in Birmingham, GB. The latest 911-based racecar from Porsche, the 911 GT3 R replaces the 911 GT3 Cup S in FIA GT3 regulations.

Sold to customers ready to race, the factory racing car comes powered by a four-liter flat-six making 480hp. With just 2,646lbs of curb weight, the 911 GT3 R is sure to rip through its sequential gearbox with ease. The downright amazing looking bodywork is based on the production 911 GT3 RS widebody and has been fitted here with more than one scoop, duct, vent and wing. On the street, you may look like a total douche but on track, you’ll look like a hero.

The Porsche 911 GT3 R's interior is nothing much except a carbon seat, long sequential transmission gear lever, roll cage, panels and digitial dash display

“Since we announced our intention to launch the 911 GT3 R, demand has been huge,” said Uwe Brettel, Head of Motorsport Sales. “The number of GT3 R vehicles we had planned for 2010 is almost sold out.”

Interestingly enough, the entire point of the 911 GT3 R was to develop a new racing car that was easier to drive. We always thought that part of the 911’s appeal was being able to control its rear-engine handling characteristics. While Porsche Motorsport probably doesn’t mind selling replacement body panels or chassis after unfortunate wrecks, they must be listening to some of their customers.

Porsche 911 GT3 R - rear view

To that end, the 911 GT3 R comes with ABS, traction control and an electronic throttle that rev-matches to help you master the usually less-forgiving non-synchro sequential transmission on downshifts. These aids were designed to open up the customer base from professionals to amateur racers but we’re sure this will also help cut down the number of embarrassing stories at the next shareholders meeting.

With a pricetag just a bit over $400,000, it’s unlikely that anybody here at OR will be getting a Porsche 911 GT3 R anytime soon. Or, really, any time at all. But the latest racing creation from Porsche looks every bit the part. We can’t wait to see what it can do in the hands of American pro racing teams.

Porsche 911 GT3 R - side view

Porsche 911 GT3 R front view - 480hp flat-six out back and Michelin slicks all around

From Porsche:

Stuttgart. Following the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, is entering yet another racing car in the 2010 motorsport season: The 911 GT3 R will be raced in series based on the international FIA GT3 regulations, thus succeeding the 911 GT3 Cup S. The main focus in developing this new model was on even better drivability and even easier handling.

The 911 GT3 R is powered by a four-litre six-cylinder boxer engine delivering maximum output of 480 bhp (353 kW) transmitted to the rear axle by a sequential six-speed dog gearbox.

The starting point in developing the 911 GT3 R weighing just 1,200 kg or 2,646 lb was the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup presented in September for one-make cup racing. Thanks to its increase in engine size by 0.2 litres, the GT3 R offers 30 bhp more than the Cup model. Both cars are based on the extra-wide body of the 911 GT3 RS street-legal sports car.

An anti-lock brake system (ABS), traction control and an e-gas with "throttle-blip" function make it much easier to get used to this new GT3 racing car than its predecessor, meaning that the new model is also more appropriate for the ambitious amateur racing driver.

Flared wheel arches added on to the body both front and rear bear clear testimony to the wider track than on the former model. And like all second-generation versions of the 911, the new 911 GT3 R also comes with striking LED rear light clusters.

The car is built by Porsche's Motorsport Department at the Weissach Development Centre and will be delivered to Customer Teams the world over as of spring 2010. The base price of the Porsche 911 GT3 R is 279,000 euros plus local sales tax/VAT.