There’s going to be some interesting dicing on the Mulsanne Straight this year because Porsche will attack the 2017 motorsport season with a newly developed GT racer, the 911 RSR. The 911 RSR makes full use (and probably then some) of the Le Mans 24 Hours GT regulations.
It will be running against Aston Martin, Ford, Ferrari and Corvette, among others. In addition to systematic lightweight design that meets the rule minimum of 1,243 kg, the water-cooled, flat-six engine is positioned in front of the rear axle. The 4.0-liter is said to be extremely light with direct fuel injection, as well as a rigid valve drive and is characterized by “outstanding efficiency.” The new 911 RSR will make its debut at the Daytona 24-hour race in January 2017.
“While retaining the typical 911 design, this is the biggest evolution by now in the history of our top GT model,” says Head of Porsche Motorsport Frank-Steffen Walliser. The new 911 RSR is a completely new development: the suspension, body structure, aerodynamic concept, engine and transmission have all been designed from scratch.
The engine concept has enabled the designers to install a particularly large rear diffuser. Combined with a top-mounted rear wing adopted from the LMP1 race car, the 919 Hybrid, the level of downforce and the aerodynamic efficiency were significantly improved.
“For the 911 RSR, we deliberately focused on a particularly modern and light normally-aspirated engine, as this gave our engineers immense latitude in developing the vehicle,” explains Walliser. “Apart from that, in principle, the LM-GTE regulations stipulate the absolute equality of various drive concepts, as the torque characteristics of turbo and normally aspirated engines are aligned.”
Depending on the size of the restrictor, the new normally-aspirated unit puts out around 375 kW (510 horsepower). Shift paddles on the steering wheel actuate the sequential six-speed gearbox with a magnesium housing, which delivers power to the 31-centimenter-wide rear wheels. The changeover to the new engine generation is now complete. After the 911 GT3 R and the 911 GT3 Cup, the spearhead of Porsche GT racing cars is now also powered by the same six-cylinder boxer engine family.
In the past, Porsche has arguably – and controversially – pushed the limits of the 911 – in 1996 with the 911 GT1. In 1998 the 911 GT1 achieved the 16th overall victory for Porsche at the Le Mans 24-hour race. Back then, the fastest vehicle in the field was in the GT1 class as the ruinously expensive, but endlessly exciting LMP1 class did not exist.
For the first time, a Porsche GT race car has state-of-the-art assistance systems: the new 911 RSR is equipped with a radar-supported collision warning system, the so-called “Collision Avoid System.” Even in the dark, the faster LMP1 prototypes are detected early enough and “misunderstandings” can be avoided. A new safety cage concept and a new, rigidly-mounted racing seat enhance driver safety. With the seat fixed to the chassis, the pedals can now be moved and adjusted to fit the driver.
The new 911 RSR’s serviceability has also been improved. Entire elements of the carbon-fiber body can be exchanged completely in a very short time thanks to quick-release fasteners. Moreover, changes to the suspension setup can be performed much more quickly and easily.
With the look of the body, the 911 RSR is headed in a new direction that traditionalist might not like. For the first time, the GT racer bears the new factory design that is claimed to be the “clear and dynamic design language of Porsche Motorsport.” From a bird’s eye view, a hint of the Porsche emblem silhouette can be seen. The basic colors remain white, red and black.
During the 2017 season, the factory is expected to run the new 911 RSR at 19 races, which equates to more than 140 hours of racing. With two factory-entries, Porsche will take on what is arguably, well we say inarguably – the most exciting racing today – the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, as well as the American IMSA WeatherTech Championship.
The new 911 racer will celebrate its debut under the tough conditions at the IMSA season opener in Daytona on 28-29 January. “We’re very well prepared for this,” says Marco Ujhasi, Head of GT Works Sport. “Since its first rollout in Weissach in March this year we’ve covered 35,000 test kilometers on racetracks in Europe and North America – that’s more than in the development of any other Porsche GT racer.”
