New Porsche 911 GT3 R Rennsport: the race car that you can't race
Taking Porsche’s latest GT3 race car as a base, the Rennsport is a derestricted, fully uncorked track car destined for 77 customers
With a back catalogue that includes the 911 GT2 RS Clubsport and the reborn 935, Porsche is no stranger to specialised, ultra-exclusive, track-only supercars. At this year’s Rennsport Reunion – a four-day Porsche extravaganza held at Laguna Seca – the firm has pulled the wraps off another, this time based on its 911 GT3 R racing car.
Called the GT3 R Rennsport, the new model is limited to 77 units worldwide, and pushes the performance envelope of the base car to a new level. Current GT3 race cars are strangled by a Balance of Performance regulatory mechanism which restricts their power and minimum weight, but the Rennsport is free of these regulations.
As such, its 4.2-litre naturally aspirated flat-six generates 612bhp on its way to a 9400rpm redline (55bhp more than the GT3 racer), and is designed to run on sustainable e-fuels. The extra power has been achieved by unique pistons and camshafts, with drive sent to the rear wheels via a constant-mesh six-speed paddle shift gearbox. Buyers can opt for an unsilenced racing exhaust for an ear-splitting note, or one of two quieter versions to comply with track day noise restrictions.
The suspension hardware is also derived from the GT3 car, with double wishbones at the front and a multi-link setup at the rear. Aluminium monobloc racing brakes and five-way adjustable KW coilovers are fitted at each corner, with quick, predefined geometry adjustments made possible by the use of shims rather than threaded suspension arms. Porsche has also worked with Michelin to develop a new slick tyre specifically for the Rennsport, which has more manageable warm-up characteristics than those used in GT3 racing.
The mechanicals are clothed in a fully carbonfibre body, with only the bonnet carried over from the GT3 car – every other panel has been modified. The front cooling ducts and aero fins have been reprofiled, and to reduce drag, the door mirrors have been replaced with a trio of rear-facing cameras that feed screens inside the single-seat cockpit.
The Rennsport’s towering rear wing is designed to evoke that of the iconic Porsche 935/77 endurance racer, with an open rear apron to both save weight and serve as an outlet for the twin-exit exhausts. All in, the Rennsport is projected to weigh 1240kg, or 210kg lighter than a GT3 RS road car.
The GT3 R Rennsport is offered in a range of liveries inspired by Porsche’s heritage, including retro Star Ruby and Signal Orange shades. The firm describes the new model as “probably its hottest track tool ever”, and as such, it comes at a hefty price tag: €951,000 (c£823,000), plus taxes.
