Porsche Malaysia, represented by Sime Darby Auto Performance, introduced the new 911 GT3 RS at the Sepang International Circuit, offering Malaysians a racetrack-based car that can be registered and used on public roads.
Priced from RM2,630,000 (without insurance in Peninsular Malaysia), the 911 GT3 RS puts racing car technologies and features in a road-legal sportscar. For example, its cooling and aerodynamic systems have a close link to its motorsport sibling, the 911 GT3 R.
The basis for a significant aerodynamic performance boost is the concept of a central radiator – an idea that was first used in the Le Mans class-winning 911 RSR and in the latest-generation 911 GT3 R. Instead of the 3-radiator layout seen in the 911 GT3, the 911 GT3 RS relies on a large, angled centre radiator in the car’s nose, positioned where the luggage compartment is located on other 911 models.
This has made it possible to use the space freed up on the sides to integrate active aerodynamic elements. Continuously adjustable wing elements in the front and on the 2-part rear wing, in combination with a number of other aerodynamic measures, provide 409 kgs of total downforce at 200 km/h.
This means that the new 911 GT3 RS generates twice as much downforce as its 991.2-generation predecessor and 3 times as much as a current 911 GT3. At 285 km/h, total downforce is up to 860 kgs.
A drag reduction system (DRS) – a feature used in Formula 1 racing cars since 2011 – is fitted in a production Porsche for the first time. To achieve low drag and higher speeds on straight sections of the track, the DRS allows the wings to be flattened out at the push of a button, within a specific operating range.
The airbrake function is also activated during braking at high speeds. The wing elements at the front and rear are set to maximum, creating an aerodynamic deceleration effect that significantly supports the brakes.
In the new 911 GT3 RS, the openings in widened the rear arches are used exclusively to improve aerodynamics and not to draw in process air. The rear wheel arch also features an intake and a sideblade for optimised airflow.
Elsewhere on the 911 GT3 RS bodywork are a large number of functional aerodynamic elements. The most prominent of these is the swan-neck-supported rear wing, which is significantly larger in all dimensions.
The rear wing consists of a fixed main wing and an upper, hydraulically adjustable wing element. For the first time on a Porsche production model, the upper edge of the rear wing is higher than the car’s roof. In addition, the front end features a front splitter that divides the air flowing over and underneath, with sideblades accurately deflecting outwards for increased lateral stability.
Purpose-built for performance, the 911 GT3 RS has a 4-litre naturally aspirated engine with power increased to 525 ps, with 465 Nm of torque. The single-throttle intake system and the rigid valve drive are derived from motorsport.
Air intakes on the underbody enable the 7-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) to withstand extreme loads during frequent use on track, It has a shorter overall gear ratio than the 911 GT3.
Claimed performance numbers for the 911 GT3 RS are 3.2 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h and a top speed of 296 km/h in seventh gear.
With such high performance, the suspension components have also been optimised. Components of the double-wishbone front axle are designed with teardrop-shaped profiles, increasing downforce on the front axle by around 40 kgs at top speed.
Because of the widened front track (29 mm wider than the 911 GT3), the double-wishbone front axle links on the new 911 GT3 RS are also correspondingly longer. In addition, the thickness of the front brake discs has been increased from 34 to 36 mm.
The rear axle continues to be fitted with 380-mm brake discs and 4-piston fixed-calliper brakes. The optionally available Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB) has 410-mm discs on the front axle and 390-mm discs on the rear axle.
The 911 GT3 RS comes standard with forged light-alloy centre-lock wheels. Road-legal sports tyres from the factory are sized 275/35 R 20 at the front and 335/30 R21 at the rear.
Intelligent lightweight construction has been a basic principle of all RS models ever since the legendary 911 Carrera RS 2.7. For the 911 GT3 RS, there is an array of lightweight construction measures such as the extensive use of CFRP.
The doors, front wings, roof and front lid, for example, are made from CFRP. Lightweight CFRP is also used in the interior, for example in the standard full bucket seats. This keeps the car’s weight to only 1,450 kgs at the kerb, despite many larger components.
Clubsport and Weissach packages
For the base price, the Clubsport package is provide at no extra cost. This includes a steel roll-over bar, hand-held fire extinguisher and 6-point seatbelts. The interior is finished in typical RS style, with black leather, Racetex and carbon-weave finish that characterise the purist, sporting ambience.
The Weissach package, available at extra cost, adds considerably more features. The front lid, roof, parts of the rear wing and the upper shell of the exterior mirrors feature a carbon-weave finish.
The front and rear anti-roll bars, the rear coupling rods and the shear panel on the rear axle are made of CFRP and contribute to a further enhancement of the driving dynamics. The rollover bar, constructed for the first time from CFRP, saves around 6 kgs compared with the steel version.
Another highlight of the Weissach package is the PDK shift paddles with motorsport-derived magnet technology. This makes gear changes even more dynamic, thanks to a more precise pressure point and a clearly perceptible click. Optionally available with the Weissach package are magnesium forged wheels, which save another 8 kgs.
“The new 911 GT3 RS resembles a race car more closely than ever before, offering near Cup car-like performance for our growing base of track enthusiast customers. Having proven itself both on the racetrack and the road, we are delighted to introduce this highly anticipated model during the second Porsche Carrera Cup Asia race this weekend in Malaysia, with motorsport passion in the air,” said Christopher Hunter, CEO of Sime Darby Auto Performance.
