Porsche 911 991.2 RSR

Date of unveil by Porsche AG: November 16, 2016 (prototype May 12, 2016)
Premiere: 2017 January 28-29, Daytona 24h

Engine: 4.0 B6 normally aspirated, 375 kW (depends on air restrictor)
Gearbox: Sequential, 6-speed with 3-disc clutch, magnesium casing
Weight: 1243 kg/2740 lb by regulations

Two decades after the different 911 GT1 cars - 993 GT1 '96, 993 GT1 Street, 996 GT1 '97, 996 GT1 Street, 996 GT1 Evo '98 - the mid-engined 911 is back! In order to install a proper diffuser under the rear end of the 991, the engine had to make room for it and the engine/transmission unit was rotated 180 degrees. The 911 was Caymanished, so to speak. Now you probably remember when the Cayman came out in 2005, it was said to handle better than the 911. The wheelbase of the 991.2 RSR was extended to 2516 mm. In comparison Cayman GT4 has 2484 mm, 991.2 GT3 Cup has 2456 mm and 991.2 Carrera/Turbo have 2450 mm. So, the rear wheels were moved back 1.3-2.6"/32-66 mm depending on how you look. The extended rear diffuser, a top-suspended rear wing and the new side mirrors help to increase downforce with reduced drag. While the 911 GT1 cars were the ultimate mid-engined 911s with their turbocharged engines, the FIA rules restrict the engine power and there was no reason to equip the 991.2 RSR with a turbo engine. The normally aspirated 4-litre flat-6 was taken from the 991 GT3 R (used also in the 991 GT3 Cup 4.0).

The 991.2 RSR features a radar-supported Collision Avoid System which means now the faster LMP prototypes are detected early enough and misunderstandings can be avoided. For the driver safety, the seat is now closer to the center of the car and is rigidly mounted (a new FIA rule). The movable pedal box (as well as brakes), come from AP Racing.

Prototype in May 2016 - note the regular 911 mirrors© Porsche

Between March and November 2016, the prototypes were tested for a total of around 22.000 miles/35.000 km which is more than with any previous Porsche GT racing car.

2017 Porsche 919 hybrid — The photo shows the size of the 919 compared to the 911 RSR © Porsche

Mirror base contributes to the overall aerodynamics of the car© Porsche

Flat underbody extended to the sides © Porsche

The brake discs are 390 mm front and 355 mm rear. And they are of steel, naturally. Racing is business and there's no room for solutions with flaws. With ceramic brakes you can pose to your neighbour.© Porsche

12.5" wide wheels with 300 mm tyres at the front and 13" wheels with 310 mm tyres at the back. © Porsche

The mirrors are electrically adjustable and have a memory function for each pilot© Porsche

Diffuser is the main reason the rear engine had to go, to make room for the rear end underbody aerodynamics © Porsche

At 80.6"/2048 mm, the body is 6.6"/168 mm wider than that of the 991.2 Turbo© Porsche

2017 Porsche 911 991.2 RSR Manthey Racing — Manthey Racing © Porsche

2017 Porsche 911 991.2 RSR engine cover — The top access panel for the engine mimics the rear window. Rear wing is mounted in "swan neck" style. © Porsche

For better aerodynamics under the rear wing, it is hang from top© Porsche

The wheels are in the optimal size, which is 18", not 19, 20 or 21" which posers prefer© Porsche

2017 Porsche 911 991.2 RSR top view, roof hatch — © Porsche

2017 Porsche 911 991.2 RSR roll cage, cockpit — © Porsche

2016 Los Angeles Auto Show, Patrick Dempsey© Porsche

2017 Daytona 24 hours

2017 Daytona 24 Porsche 911 991 RSR in the pits — The car of Estre/Vanthoor/Lietz in the pits. The concrete barrier is a USA specific thing and if you need to repair the car in the garage, you have to drive to the paddock..© Porsche

Porsche 911 991 RSR red hot brake disc — © Porsche

The race was naturally won by prototypes and saw a 1-2 Cadillac DPi (Daytona Prototype, international) victory, both covering 659 laps. The Cadillacs looked like factory team cars, but were private and before the finish they made a contact, following a change of the leader. The GT LM cars were just 7 laps behind (only 1% slower!). Seven GT LM cars finished the race after each other, not just on the same lap, but within 7 seconds! While in the middle of the race Porsches were 1-2 in the class, the final GT LM result was: 1. Ford GT, 2. 991.2 RSR #911 driven by Pilet/Werner/Makowiecki, 3. Ferrari 488, 4. Corvette, 5. Ford GT, 6. 991.2 RSR, 7. Ford GT. Remember, all they covered 652 laps and were 7 seconds apart after 24 hours!

Thanks to BoP (Balance of Performance) rules the cars are made so equal and this makes the race really interesting to follow. In reality, sports car racing is not a subject of public interest in USA and therefore Daytona 24 hour race cannot be compared to the Le Mans 24 and Nürburgring 24 hour races which have more than 200.000 spectators. No spectators, no money, IMSA has to lean even on alcohol producers. The drivers on the podium had to hold tequila or vodka bottles in their hands. Really? In the 21st century!?

2017 January 29, Daytona 24 hour race GT LM class second place drivers Patrick Pilet, Fred Makowiecki and Dirk Werner with alcohol bottles© Porsche

2017 Silverstone 6 hours

The first race of the 2017 FIA WEC season was won by Toyota in LMP1 class (only Porsche and Toyota factory teams are left in LMP1) and by Ford in GTE-Pro. Ford GT also showed the best laptime among GT cars. Porsche 911 RSR #91 finished third after a Ferrari 488 GTO. The #92 Porsche 911 had to retire because of the engine fire.

2017 April 16, Silverstone 6 hour FIA WEC, Porsche 911 991 RSR mid-engine fire — Kévin Estre got out from the car unhurt. As a true Porsche-enthusiast, he agitated the lazy marshals to put out the fire quicker. © FIA (extracted from FIA WEC video)

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Anniversaries: Jul, 10 – 51st birthday of the 910 (1966); Jul, 16 – 13th birthday of the 911 997 (2004); Aug, 19 – 78th birthday of the type 64 (1939); Aug, 29 – 52nd birthday of the 906 (1965); Sep, 03 – 142nd birthday anniversary of Ferdinand Porsche (1875)