2023 Porsche 911 GT3 R – The all-new 2023 Porsche 911 GT3 R customer racecar has been revealed, just in time for it to compete in the 2023 season as well as the new FIA World Endurance Championship GT3 class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans starting in 2024. One month before its road-legal sibling, the previously teased 911 GT3 RS road vehicle, Porsche took the wraps off the brand-new 911 GT3 R racing car. However, with a starting price of more than half a million dollars, it is not exactly inexpensive.
2023 Porsche 911 GT3 R Review
Powertrain
The new 992-generation Porsche 911-based GT3 R, which has been under development since 2019, has a number of substantial modifications to its engine. It is still a naturally aspirated flat-six engine that is water-cooled and has direct injection, but the capacity has been increased by five per cent, going from 3,997 to 4,194 cubic centimetres, making it a 4.2-litre motor. Yes, the whole engine was tipped forwards by five degrees to create a way for the underbody diffuser. Additionally, the air conditioning compressor and alternator were shifted forwards and farther down to improve the vehicle’s weight distribution. This resulted in an improved overall weight balance. The engine now has a rating of 565 horsepower, which is an increase of 65 horsepower in comparison to the previous racer. The engine is still coupled to a six-speed sequential gearbox that has paddle shifters.
“We scored a home run with the extremely successful product that came before it. As a result, the standard for its replacement is very high, “Sebastian Golz, the 911 GT3 R Project Manager at Porsche Motorsport, places a lot of emphasis on this. “The categorisation of performance windows defined by the BoP soon nullifies any benefit gained from making the new 911 GT3 R even quicker. Our objective was less about making the new 911 GT3 R even faster. The ability of our clients to drive the race vehicle at a faster pace for a longer period of time was of the utmost importance to us. This demands durability, which is why we spent the majority of our attention on improving the vehicle’s driveability. This is evident in the new 4.2-litre engine having a wider useful rev range, having more stable and consistent aerodynamics, and having lower stresses on the rear tyres, which allows their potential to endure longer.”
Additionally, the suspension has been fine-tuned. The front axle is supported by a double-wishbone configuration, while the rear axle is supported by a multi-link setup, both of which are equipped with upgraded and adjustable KW shock absorbers. Porsche claims that the modifications it made to the suspension, some of which were taken from the 911 RSR, allow for more precise steering, improve setup time, and contribute to a reduction in tyre wear. All of these improvements were made in an effort to make things easier for customer teams to race with. In addition, the 911 R’s wheelbase has been lengthened by 2.64 inches as a result of putting the rear wheels farther back in the vehicle. In terms of aerodynamics, a raised underbody in front of the front axle, in conjunction with a smooth undertray and a rear diffuser, results in increased airflow as well as an increase in downforce.
Powertrain
The body is based on the same lightweight aluminium-steel composite design as the production car; however, almost all of the body panels on the 911 R are made from carbon fibre, including the frunk hood, engine cover, rear wing, roof panel, side panels, and the doors, with the wheel arches made from aramid fibres. The 911 R has a top speed of 320 kilometres per hour and can reach a top track speed of 340 kilometres per hour (similar to fibreglass). For the purpose of braking, the specialised business AP provides 15.35-inch-diameter, six-piston vented and slotted front steel discs. These discs are joined by 14.56-inch discs with four pistons at the back, which are clamped by aluminium monoblock callipers. Porsche asserts that the upgraded software for the car’s fifth-generation anti-lock braking system (ABS) helps minimise wear on the tyres and brakes and that the traction control system has also been improved.
In order to strengthen the roll cage geometry and meet with new FIA regulation side impact protection standards, Porsche has moved the driver’s seat inside the vehicle inward, bringing it closer to the centre of the vehicle. Adjustments may be made to the driver controls, including the steering wheel and pedals, even if the seat itself remains in place. Special ramps have been added to the six-point harness clasps in order to enhance driver change timings. Porsche estimates that these ramps should shave off around one second from the time it takes to change drivers during pit stops. The multi-switch layout on the steering wheel was taken from the 911 RSR Le Man’s racer, while the 10.3-inch driver display was taken from the 911 GT3 Cup racing.
2023 Porsche 911 GT3 R Price & Release Date
The Porsche 911 GT3 R can be purchased in North America for a price tag of $567,210. This price does not include the additional upgrades that are offered as options.