Not For Influencers
The GT3 may be a fantastic track tool, but it’s also become the darling of influencers who are unlikely ever to explore the car’s limits or capabilities. That said, Porsche‘s latest 911 probably won’t appeal to those types, as it’s a proper, full-on, and hardcore race car.
Meet the 911 GT4 R, aimed squarely at racing drivers and teams in various motorsport series around the world. It’s effectively the successor to the Cayman GT4 Clubsport, as the Cayman is no longer around, and it’s the first time Porsche is applying the GT4 treatment to the 911.
Porsche
Ready to Race
The 911 GT4 R is as race-ready as it gets. Forget creature comforts and conveniences; it’s totally stripped out and only packs the essentials. The car comes with a roll cage, a racing steering wheel that eliminates all the stalks, a control panel for other auxiliaries, a kill switch, and an instrument display that’s beyond the average driver. Apple CarPlay or Android Auto? Forget about it.
Not only that, Porsche has replaced a good chunk of the car’s skin with natural fiber composites. This material is essentially the eco-friendlier version of carbon fiber, but it retains the lightness and strength needed in cars like these. More natural fiber is used in the car’s interior, further reducing weight.
Porsche
Laying Down the Power
As it’s based on the GT3, the GT4 R uses the same engine as its road-going counterpart. That means a 4.0-liter naturally aspirated flat-six engine that, in this application, makes 512 hp and 346 lb-ft of torque. For those familiar with the GT3’s specs, the mill in the GT4 makes a little more power. For reference, the road car makes 503 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque.
This special 911 then shifts with a six-speed sequential gearbox like a true competition vehicle. The racing clutch is a four-disc system, so you’ll need pretty good knees to get it off the line. As for the chassis, dual-adjustable dampers and three selectable spring rates to maximize setup, and the rear wing is adjustable.
In other words, it’s a serious bit of kit, one that will be an absolute pain to drive on the street but a dream on the race track. For racing teams and budding amateur racers, the 911 GT4 will set you back $375,000, which already includes import and delivery to the U.S. As for the rest of us who aren’t racing drivers or don’t own a racing team, the GT3 RS is coming soon and is touted to get a turbo for the first time.
Porsche
Porsche
