Pavlov's Bell: Porsche reveals, prices new 911 GT3 Cup racer ahead of Frankfurt debut
by Noah Joseph on Aug 26th 2009 at 9:58AM 
PRESS RELEASE:
World Debut in Frankfurt: the New Porsche 911 GT3 Cup
New Edition of the World´s Most Successful Racing Car
Stuttgart. Stronger, wider, faster – the new version of the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup offers its many customers the world over even greater value than ever before. The successor to the best-selling racing car of all time built in a production series of more than 1,400 units is based for the first time on the 911 GT3 RS, with the weight of the racing model reduced significantly versus the lightweight road-going version.
This is the first GT3 Cup to feature the 44-millimetre (1.73") wider body at the rear, providing sufficient space for even larger wheels. Wider wheel arches also at the front clearly show that the front wheels are likewise new.
Engine capacity is up by 0.2 litres over the former model, engine output is 30 bhp more than before. The most important facts and figures: 3.8-litre six-cylinder horizontally-opposed power unit developing 450 bhp (331 kW), sequential six-speed manual gearbox, weight 1,200 kg (2,646 lb), racing version of the 911 GT3 RS.
The new GT3 Cup is clearly recognisable at very first sight through the special looks and design of the front end. The striking daytime driving lights come straight from the current generation of the 911, the front body panels are the same as on the 911 GT3 RS. The front spoiler lip is however 15 millimetres or almost 0.6" lower to provide significantly more downforce on the front axle. Downforce on the rear axle is also increased by the rear wing extended in width from 1.46 to 1.70 metres (57.5 to 66.9") and fitted higher up as a feature carried over from the even faster 911 GT3 Cup S in international FIA GT3 racing. The rear air dam with its striking air vent openings as well as the rear lights in LED technology, in turn, come straight from the road model.
The power unit featured in the new 911 GT3 Cup is largely identical to the production engine in the 911 GT3 RS – same output of 450 bhp and same maximum engine speed of 8,500 rpm. Capacity of the Cup engine, however, is up from 3.6 litres on the former model to 3.8 litres on the new car, helping to increase engine power by 30 bhp.
A racing exhaust system with a fully controlled catalytic converter helps to reduce harmful emissions to a minimum. As an exclusive feature in the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup held on the occasion of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship races, the new 911 GT3 Cup comes with a modified, special exhaust system offering an even more dynamic and muscular sound. Another feature exclusive to the Supercup version is PCCB Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes also available on Porsche's road models. Compared with the composite cast brake discs featured on the Carrera Cup cars, this reduces the weight of the car by approximately 20 kg or 44 lb.
The wheel arches wider at the front and the flared wheel arches at the rear provide ample space for even wider wheels. Hence, the front axle comes with three-piece light-alloy rims measuring 9.5 J x 18 (previously 9 J x 18) and running on 24/64-18 Michelin racing tyres. The three-piece light-alloy rims on the rear axle are up by one inch in width, now measuring 12 J x 18 and running on 27/68-18 tyres.
Additional Unibal joints are featured on the track control arms and the sword-shaped anti-roll bars front and rear are now adjustable to seven different positions on both sides, allowing an even more precise set-up of the car in accordance with the respective race track.
The cockpit of the new 911 GT3 Cup caters even more than before for the specific needs of the driver. An additional vent in the upper part of the front lid, for example, provides the driver with an even better supply of fresh air. The controls for the Info Display are now positioned directly on the steering wheel housing a total of six switches. And in addition to fore-and-aft adjustment, the steering wheel may now also be adjusted for height as on the regular production car.
The new Porsche 911 GT3 Cup available exclusively in Carrara White will be delivered to customers as of the end of October. In the upcoming season it will be raced in no less than seven cup trophies – not only in the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup on the occasion of Formula 1 races, but also in the Porsche Carrera Cups in Germany, Asia, Japan, and Italy, as well as the GT3 Cup Challenges in the USA and the Middle East.
The Euro base-price is Euro 149,850.- without value-added tax.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Kevin White 10:28AM (8/26/2009)
Technically street-legal? Or not?
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nastinupe 10:51AM (8/26/2009)
Not...
hoyaCS08 10:51AM (8/26/2009)
Nope - I believe the Cup cars come with VIN numbers that don't allow them to be registered on the street, at least in the EU and North America (the "check digit" is invalid, and the model section designates the car as a racer)
sparrk 10:56AM (8/26/2009)
good question , but i think you need to change the race exhaust and tires to make it street legal.
there are used racing Porsches converted to street legal cars for sale in Germany. but i think it's easier to modify an existing GT3-RS than convert a racing car to street legal status.
Kevin White 11:03AM (8/26/2009)
Good info, thank you.
nastinupe 10:24AM (8/26/2009)
Porsche is about making that Moolah baby!!!
I'd love to see a Cayman Turbo Porsche with 480 hp.
Reply
sparrk 10:42AM (8/26/2009)
http://www.tpcracing.us/turbos/turbos/cayman_turbo,_available_now.html
there you go
sparrk 10:40AM (8/26/2009)
i really like this colour combination !
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why not the LS2LS7? 10:59AM (8/26/2009)
The article implies the 911 GT3 RS is the most hardcore 911. 'all to improve the most hardcore 911's competition capabilities'
The 911 GT3 RS isn't the most hardcore 911. Even if you leave the 911 GT2 aside, the 911 GT3 RSR is above the 911 GT3 RS, and of course the 911 GT3 cup is in between the two.
Reply
sparrk 12:27PM (8/26/2009)
to be more precise , the racing 911s are GT3 Cup (Porsche Cup racer) < GT3 Cup S (FIA GT3 racer) < GT3 RSR ( FIA GT2 racer)
BrianFL 11:24AM (8/26/2009)
I wonder what the profitability is in these stripped out race spec cars. Hmmmmm...ALOT. Think about it. No A\C, Nav, leather seats, PW, PDL, airbags. etc. Just an engine in a body. Why does it cost more for less? Still boggles my mind.
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Mike 11:56AM (8/26/2009)
I can't point to any other manufacturer that sells a race car and supports it the way Porsche does. If you can't understand that then you never will. If you do understand it then you're car crazy and probably a racer!! I own a 99 Mustang Cobra that my son and I have raced in AV8SS and I can tell you that if we had the time and the money a Cup car would be a no brainer. My Mustang is still my first love so I would never part with it. I could write paragraphs here to convince you but that would probably be a waist of my time and disc space for Autoblog.
Cheers
sparrk 12:34PM (8/26/2009)
"No A\C, Nav, leather seats, PW, PDL, airbags. etc. Just an engine in a body"
it has AC , the seat is carbon fiber, the breaks are carbon fiber/ceramic, the exhaust is special racing exhaust, racing suspensions, data gathering equipment, special fuel pumps, gearbox is a special racing sequential gearbox , special wheels and tires... and tons of other little things.
so yeah , just an engine and a body...
Ted 11:26PM (8/26/2009)
If Cup cars were "just and engine in a body" , then all the teams would simply build thier own out of parts as was done in the 70's and 80's. But it's much more economical to buy a Cup Car. Just about as close as you can get to a fully prepared, competative, out-of-the box, roll it onto the track race car.
I seriously doubt that Porsche makes any money at all on the sale of Cup cars. Instead, I suspect thay are " Loss Leaders".
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