The 997-based Porsche 911 GT3 RSR will make its world motor sport debut at the famous Spa 24 Hour race this Saturday, 29th July. The RSR is a racing sports car based on the new road-going 911 GT3 RS.

Two identical RSRs will be campaigned in the classic Belgian race by the well-credentialed Manthey Racing Team. Car number ‘911’ will be driven by works German drivers Timo Bernhard and Marc Lieb and Portuguese racer Pedro Lamy. Driving RSR number ‘997’ are factory pilots Lucas Luhr (Monaco), Sascha Maassen (Belgium) with Marcel Tiemann (Monaco).

The Spa race is the only event planned for the new 911 GT3 RSR this year. However, the car will be available for customer racing in 2007 as it aims to maintain the dominance of its predecessor – Porsche customer teams have claimed class wins in Spa every year since the GT3 first competed there in 2001 – including overall victory in 2003.

The new GT3 RSR is designed to comply with the A.C.O (Automobile Club de l’Ouest), the FIA-GT and IMSA (International Motorsports Association) as well as VLN (Veedol Langstrecke Nürburgring) regulations; thereby enabling it to compete in many of the world’s most famous and competitive endurance races.

Porsche decided to build the new 997-based GT3 RSR after analysing the relevant A.C.O. and FIA regulations – the new car will weigh a minimum of 1,225 kgs (996- based predecessor: 1,125 kgs), where 35 kg of the additional weight may be used as ballast to lower the car’s centre of gravity. Maximum tyre width is 14 inches (previously 12 inches).

The 911 GT3 RSR runs a normally-aspirated 3.8-litre engine with air restrictors. The increased displacement is achieved by enlarging the bore to 102.7 mm with an unchanged stroke of 76.4 mm. With the mandatory air restrictors, the unit produces 359 kW of power at 8,500 rpm and 435 Nm of torque at 7,250 rpm. Maximum engine speed is a high 9,000 rpm. The new positioning of the mid-front radiator and the use of side radiators – taken from the high performance Carrera GT – further improve engine cooling.

For the Spa 24 Hour race, the GT3 RSR features the proven sequential six-speed gearbox of its forerunner. The customer vehicles for 2007 will be delivered with a new sequential six-speed transmission featuring the gears of the RS Spyder which competes in the American Le Mans Series.

The bodyshell of the new GT3 RSR has a welded-in safety cage and is 10 per cent stiffer than its predecessor. Distinctive rear wheel arches widen the body by 50 mm on each side; thereby enlarging the effective allowable width of the wheels, tyres and track.

Weight is reduced through the extensive use of carbon-fibre for the engine cover, bonnet, front and rear guards, doors and rear spoiler. The rear and side windows are manufactured from light polycarbonate.

The newly-developed aerodynamic package improves the aerodynamic efficiency by approximately seven (7) per cent compared to its predecessor. Airflow to and from the radiators, the brakes and the engine is further optimised; while the new GT3 RSR features a flat underbody.

The suspension with Porsche optimised struts at the front and multi-link axle at the rear corresponds to the configuration of the standard 911. The modified kinematics are set-up for the wider tyre footprint and for the lowest possible camber change in rebound and compression. The new ZF-Sachs shock absorbers feature the Through- Rod-System with considerably lower chamber pressure and hence less friction than conventional dampers.

The brake system features six-piston aluminium callipers measuring 380 mm x 35 mm at the front; and four-piston aluminium callipers measuring 355 mm x 32 mm at the rear.

Porsche plans an initial build of 35 units of the 911 GT3 RSR over the 2006/2007 European winter.

Technical data: Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (based on 911 GT3 RS)

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