PARIS: Porsche has unveiled its new 911 GT3 Cup that has been completely redeveloped and now looks set to do battle on the world's race tracks next year.

The world's best-selling racecar has a naturally aspirated 4.0-litre flat-six engine in the rear to deliver 485hp to the rear wheels.

The engine now possesses a valve drive with stiffer mounted rocker arms and a central oil feed for the very first time.

Additionally, there's now an integrated oil centrifuge, a stiffer crankshaft, new front and rear apron for better downforce generation to improve traction and grip levels.

With a ready-to-race weight of 1,200kg, the race car's 1,840mm-wide rear wing from its predecessor has been retained, along with the body's aluminium-steel composite construction, one-piece central-locking 18-inch racing wheels with 270mm-wide Michelin racing slicks for the front and 310mm for the rear.

For safety, there's a solid safety cage and a bucket-style racing seat that's been moulded heavily around the head and shoulder areas.

Furthermore, the rescue hatch in the roof has been enlarged, which is in line with the latest FIA standard, to make it easier to provide initial treatment and recovery following an accident.

Porsche manufactures the 911 GT3 Cup on the same production line as the 911 road car in its main plant in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen.

The basic race tuning is performed at the Weissach motorsport centre, where vehicles are also thoroughly tested by a professional race driver prior to delivery to the customer.

Some 3,031 units of the 911 GT3 Cup have been built in the 996, 997 and 991 model lines since 1998, making the brand's cup racing car from Stuttgart the most-produced and most-sold GT racing car in the world.

The new 911 GT3 Cup will be used in the 2017 race season, initially exclusively in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, which is held alongside the Formula 1 races, and in the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland, as well as in North America. As of 2018, the car will also be available for other brand cups.

In total, Porsche is organising 20 of these race series for customer teams around the world, with the 911 GT3 Cup being used exclusively.



 

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