Porsche GT3 R makes debut

Fancy the odd track day? Got a lazy $500K burning a hole in your pocket? Reckon you could show that old man Michael Schumacher a thing or two? Then Porsche have the right car for you. It’s the 911 GT3 R and it made its worldwide debut yesterday.

In exchange for your half million dollars and a few pleasantries Porsche will hand you a 1200kg dedicated racing machine all ready to take part in your local FIA GT3 racing series. You also get 480bhp from your 4.0 litre flat six and lots of buttons to push on your alcantara covered steering wheel. Nice!

Such a pedigree racer like this deserves a famous racetrack location for a debut don’t you think? Silvertsone? Nah, a bit flat—good, but not really worthy. Spa? Yeah, not a bad suggestion, It is one of the world’s most respected tracks after all. But I’m not sure it ticks all the right boxes. The Nürburgring? Yes, perfect. It scores points for being in Germany, of course, but you’re also likely to see one or two taking part in the what has to be the world’s best 24-hour race. Forget Le Mans, that’s rubbish, the Nürburgring 24 hour race is where your balls are really tested. Just imagine circling the famous Nordschleife in the wee hours of the morning, in driving rain, with 200,000 mind altered Germans cheering you on—sounds like a barrel of laughs!

Sorry, I digress, the location for the worldwide debut of the Porsche 911 GT3 R, then? A big shed in middle England. Well the Autosport International show in Birmingham to be precise. Doesn’t really seem fitting, does it.

Loads more after the break, although, sadly, Porsche PR are pretty light on with pictures of this purebred racer.

World debut of 911 GT3 R leads Porsche display at Autosport International show

14 January 2010 – Today, Porsche unveils its latest 911 race car, announces an innovative racing driver development course and introduces its British motorsport programme for 2010 at the Autosport International show at the Birmingham NEC (January 14 – 17).

The 911 GT3 R
Developed for racing series based on the international FIA GT3 regulations, the stunning 911 GT3 R succeeds the 911 GT3 Cup S and is delivered to customers ready-to-race. The starting point in developing the GT3 R was the latest 3.8-litre Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, which will compete in the 2010 Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup supporting selected Formula One races. However, the GT3 R – which weighs just 1,200 kg (2,646 lb) – has a larger 4.0-litre six-cylinder ‘boxer’ engine delivering 480 bhp and other technical developments designed to improve the performance of the car further still.

For example, an anti-lock braking system, traction control and an electronic throttle with ‘blip’ function on gearbox down-changes make it much easier for drivers to get used to the GT3 R race car than the prior Cup S model, with the consequence that the new car is also more appropriate for the ambitious amateur racing driver rather than purely experienced professionals. The main focus with this new car was to deliver even better driveability and easier handling.

Additional flared wheel arches front and rear emphasise the purposeful, wide track of the GT3 R. And like all second generation versions of the 911, the new 911 GT3 R also comes with striking LED rear light clusters. For optimal aerodynamic performance, the underbody of the car is completely covered and features a rear diffuser and, compared to the prior Cup S model, the range of adjustment on the rear wing has been increased.

The highly-developed suspension can also be adjusted extensively; at the front are height-adjustable MacPherson 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 together with adjustable SACHS two-way shock absorbers and double coil springs.

“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.”

As the newest Porsche race car, the 911 GT3 R has an incredible provenance. In 2009, the ultimate racing Porsche 911 – the GT3 RSR – won the GT2 Drivers’ title in the FIA GT Championship, the GT2 title in the American Le Mans Series and also in the Le Mans Series of endurance races, and also triumphed in the gruelling 24 Hours of the Nurburgring race.

Like the 911 GT3 Cup and 911 GT3 RSR, the Porsche 911 GT3 R is designed and built by the Porsche Motorsport Department at the company’s Weissach Development Centre. First deliveries to customer teams around the world begin in the spring, and the base price of the Porsche 911 GT3 R is 279,000 Euros plus local sales tax/VAT.

The Racing Driver Development Programme
The Porsche Experience Centre at Silverstone, Northants, has welcomed over 12,000 customers since the bespoke track facility officially opened its doors a year ago. In addition to being the perfect venue for owners to learn about the technology beneath the skin of their new car, the Experience Centre offers a variety of courses for all driving enthusiasts. The new Racing Driver Development Programme gives individuals who are serious about their motorsport the chance to sign-up for a series of structured coaching and mentoring sessions at the Experience Centre. Exploring in detail all the facets that go into making up the complete racing driver, the course aims to develop the skills and knowledge necessary for success in motor sport.

Being successful in motorsport takes hard work, commitment, dedication and a degree of luck. However, by focusing on the right areas you can significantly increase your chances of success. The Porsche Human Performance Centre at Silverstone has rapidly established itself as the only place to visit if you are serious about your physical and psychological preparation as a racing driver.

For 2010, the team has put together a programme that will extend the concept to look at all the factors that contribute towards on-track success. An expert team has been assembled to mentor and coach participants, and to improve your knowledge and performance. Led by Richard Bott from the Porsche Experience Centre and Ian Flux, one of the UK’s leading race drivers, the Racing Driver Development Programme offers a choice of specific packages aimed at developing key disciplines including technique, racecraft, fitness, psychology, data analysis, sponsorship and insight to car set-up and engineering feedback.

Each programme is tailored for individual drivers and is designed to maximize your potential. Help and advice is provided by world-class drivers including Red Bull Grand Prix winner Mark Webber and experts from organizations such as Michelin, Adidas and of course the sports scientists at the Porsche Human Performance Centre.

A key part of the schedule are intensive driver coaching sessions around the circuit incorporating the latest data logging and video capture technology which enables precise analysis of driving technique.

‘Get Race Fit’ Open Day at the Porsche Experience Centre Silverstone
If you are interested in learning more about the Racing Driver Development Programme or any of the other courses offered by the Porsche Human Performance Centre, whether from a motor sport, road driving or general wellness perspective, there is a ‘Get Race Fit’ Open Day at the Silverstone venue on January 23. Joining in on the day to answer questions will be Mark Webber and MotoGP winner Bradley Smith. For further information, or to book your place on the Open Day, please contact Porsche Human Performance, Telephone 08443 575911 or 01327 855 074; E-mail php@porsche.co.uk.

Meet the winners of the 2010 Porsche Carrera Cup GB Scholarship
Two British racing drivers whose motorsport careers are definitely stepping up a gear in 2010 are Euan Hankey and Michael Meadows, who have been selected from six young racing driver finalists as the winners of the 2010 Porsche Carrera Cup GB Scholarship. Twenty-two year-old Euan (Taunton) and 21-year old Michael (Banbury) were selected from six finalists after two days of intensive evaluation at Silverstone designed to find two drivers to follow the path to becoming a professional sports car racer.

The two winners of the coveted prize, now in its second year, each received £50,000 from Porsche Cars GB to use as a significant element of their budget for the 2010 Carrera Cup GB season. A prime element of the Scholarship programme is the mentoring Euan and Michael will receive over the year from Richard Westbrook, former Porsche Supercup and Porsche Carrera Cup GB Champion, and 2009 FIA GT2 Class Champion driving a 911 GT3 RSR. Euan and Michael will be available to meet race fans on the Porsche stand and talk about their experiences as they prepare for the most exciting step yet in their motorsport careers.

2010 Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship
Now entering its eighth season, the 2010 Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship offers the fastest single marque racing in the UK and comprises a superb 20-race programme alongside the MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC). Using the Carrera Cup format that is established in many countries around the world, the Championship sees drivers racing identical versions of the 420bhp Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car. And, with minimal modifications permitted to the cars, it is only the drivers’ skill, talent and experience that make the decisive difference in the fight for victory, points and prize money. Spectacular action is always a feature of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB and with high calibre drivers taking part, close racing between the cars is guaranteed.

The prize fund of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB is one of the largest in national motorsport and a purse in excess of £150,000 will be shared across the grid. In addition, the overall 2010 Porsche Carrera Cup Champion will also be presented with a new Porsche 911 Carrera, on loan for twelve months following their victory.

The Championship will also continue to operate its innovative triple-tier Drivers’ Championship structure, allowing competitors to compete in either a professional (Pro) category, or one of two Professional-Amateur categories, depending upon their profile and past performance. The Pro-Am1 programme offers non-professional racing drivers and those with less experience the chance to compete for a points and awards package, whilst still competing within the overall Carrera Cup. Pro-Am2 is designed with the ‘gentleman’ racer in mind, as well as young drivers aiming to make the step up from single-seater race cars or other one-make series.

Catch up with the action around Great Britain
The 2010 Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship visits all the major UK regions, with races at famous venues such as Silverstone (Northants), Oulton Park (Cheshire) and Donington Park (Leicestershire), plus Knockhill (Scotland). Further rounds are held at Snetterton (Norfolk), Croft (North Yorkshire), Brands Hatch (Kent) and Thruxton (Hampshire) where the action begins on April 3 – 4.

Building on the success of last year, over 300,000 race fans are expected to see the action first hand in 2010, while an extensive TV package – subject to confirmation – will take the Porsche Carrera Cup GB to millions of ‘armchair’ enthusiasts.

GT3 Cup Challenge set for 2010 in Britain
An all-new Porsche racing series launches in Britain for the 2010 season with the introduction of the GT3 Cup Challenge. The new series is open to any 911 GT3 Cup car from 2008 or earlier and is administered by the Porsche Club GB with official backing from Porsche Cars GB. The new series replaces the existing Porsche Open and sits comfortably beneath the Carrera Cup GB, which, as usual, is open to the current model 911 GT3 Cup car. There will be close links between the Carrera Cup GB and the new GT3 Cup Challenge. The GT3 Cup Challenge is an established concept across the world, with race series in New Zealand, Australia, Brazil, USA and for 2010, Japan, Scandanavia, Turkey and the Middle East.

Porsche Carrera Cup background
Porsche can claim more than 28,000 race victories in almost every motor sports series worldwide, and while many of these successes have been achieved with immensely powerful specialist race cars like the evocative 917 and 956, the iconic 911 sports coupe is the bedrock on which the peerless racing reputation of the Stuttgart marque has been built.

The Porsche Carrera Cup was established in 1990 and reflects the core values associated with the Porsche name such as high performance, technical achievement and exclusivity. The Porsche 911 GT3 Cup race car competes in the Mobil1 Supercup, the world’s fastest international one-make Championship, which supports Formula One Grands Prix. The 911 GT3 Cup also entertains spectators around the world racing in the many domestic Carrera Cup Championships in Germany, Asia, France, Italy, Japan, Scandanavia and Great Britain.

All Carrera Cup Great Britain participants race technically identical 911 GT3 Cup cars, a track version of the 911 road car. A comprehensive technical support package ensures that the Porsche Carrera Cup is run to high standards. Each car is supplied direct from Porsche Motorsport and, apart from the fitment of safety equipment, revised aerodynamics and larger brakes, no further modifications to the engine, suspension or body are permitted. Indeed, approximately 80% of the Carrera Cup race car’s components are shared with the road-going model – demonstrating perfectly the pure-bred sporting integrity and design standards of the Porsche brand.