Porsche 911 991.1 GT3 R (2016-2018)

Date of unveil by Porsche AG: May 15, 2015
Market launch: December 2015

Technical specification and comparison

	Purpose	Engine	Power	Gearbox	Front brakes	Rear brakes	Front tyres wheels	Rear tyres wheels	Tank L	Dimensions	Weight
911 991.1 GT3 R	2016-2018 FIA GT	4000 cc, bore 102.0 mm, stroke 81.5 mm	368 kW without restrictor	Sequential 6-speed	380 mm steel disc 6-piston caliper	372 mm steel disc 4-piston caliper	30/65-18 12.0x18 ET17	31/71-18 13.0x18 ET37.5	120	4604 x 2002	*1220 kg 2689 lb
911 991.1 RSR	2013-2015 FIA GTE Pro	3996 cc, bore 102.7 mm; stroke 80.4 mm	345 kW with restrictor	Sequential 6-speed	380 mm steel disc 6-piston caliper	355 mm steel disc 4-piston caliper	30/68-18 12.5x18 ET25	31/71-18 14.0x18 ET50	94	4537 x 2002	*1220 kg 2689 lb
911 991.1 GT3 Cup	Porsche Carrera Cup, Porsche Supercup	3800 cc, bore 102.7 mm, stroke 76.4 mm	338	Sequential 6-speed	380 mm steel disc 4-piston caliper	380 mm steel disc 4-piston caliper	27/65-18 10.5x18 ET28	31/71-18 12.0x18 ET53	100	4537 x 1851	1200 kg 2645 lb

* Without ballast dictated by Balance of Performance (BoP)

The suspension and brakes of the 991 GT3 R were tested at the VLN long distance race on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife on 17 October, 2015. The engine in the test car was the well-proven powerplant from predecessor models as the new DFI (Direct Fuel Injection) engine was undergoing test runs in Weissach and in the USA. Compared to the 997, the wheelbase is 3.3"/83 mm longer.

The 991 GT3 R became available from December 2015 for the 2016 racing season that had new FIA rules for GT cars. Despite the 2016 991.2 Carrera already launched, the 991 GT3 R customer racing cars retained the looks of the 991.1 generation (factory team did not use the GT3 R).

The body panels of the 991 GT3 R are naturally made of carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP). All windows are made of polycarbonate and starting with the 991 GT3 R, also the windscreen. In accordance with the new FIA safety rules, the door windows are removable in addition to the slightly larger escape hatch in the roof. The doors are also removable. The engine is the same as in the street legal 991 GT3 RS, except the air for the engine is taken through the openings on the rear lid (the useless "show-off" side air intakes seen on the 991 GT3 RS are not used on the real racing car). The 120 litre FT3 cell has fuel cut off safety valve in accordance with FIA regulations. Like with the earlier racing versions, the air jack system with four jacks has been built into the car. The bucket seat can be adjusted fore/aft. The seat has adjustable padding system to suit individual drivers. With drivers under 80 kg, ballast has to be installed in the car.

The central front radiator is better protected against collision damage and has better cooling thanks to venting of hot air through louvers in the front lid© Porsche

Escape hatch on the double-bubble roof© Porsche

No Porsche badge on this prototype© Porsche

The wheel arch air vents on the front fairings increase downforce at the front axle© Porsche

Brakes are supplied by PFC Performance Friction Corporation© Porsche

The rear wing is 78.7"/2 m wide© Porsche

The massive Michelin tyres mounted on BBS wheels measure 300 mm on front axle and 310 mm at the back© Porsche

The four extra xenon headlights in the front apron and the engine oil quick refilll system come with the optional Endurance Kit. Unjpainted body shows CFRP (carbon fibre reinforced plastic).© Porsche

In the event of an accident, the new racing bucket seat offers pilots even better protection© Porsche

To make the switches easier to recognise in the dark, their colours are fluorescent and respond to a black light lamp situated above the driver's helmet© Porsche

Although the display has PORSCHE written on it, it is supplied by Cosworth© Porsche

2016 FIA GT World Cup

On November 19-20, 2016, a racing event called Macau Grand Prix was held and a once-in-a-year FIA GT World Cup event within it. A pre-race comment from Porsche driver Kévin Estre (911 GT3 R #912): “The street circuit in Macau is one of my top 3 racetracks – it’s very fast and incredibly difficult, with many bumps and blind corners. There are no run-off areas, only walls and guard rails. You have to focus from start to finish and you can’t afford to make the slightest mistake. The many fans lend a great atmosphere. For the majority of drivers it’s the last race of the year, so they’ll be doing everything to head into the winter break with a victory under their belts.”

Nice shot made in Macau in 2016© Porsche

2016 Macau: GT3 R and its rivals© Porsche

The Macau Grand Prix hosted the TCR International, three local (Macau/Chinese) series and 2 FIA races (GT and F3). The Macau street track is narrow, slippery and has no run-off areas, so the accidents happened all weekend long. The most spectacular crash happened during the FIA GT World Cup race when a second place Audi R8 landed on its roof. The GT race was terminated after this incident. Although the race was supposed to be 18 laps long, with many accidents only 1 or 2 timed laps could be counted. At the moment when the race was terminated, two Porsche 991 GT3 R were leading (1. Earl Bamber #911, 2. Kevin Estre #912). According to the rules the positions of the last full lap were accounted for the race and it meant that Laurens Vanthoor who landed his Audi R8 on the roof, was named as the winner of the race (Porsche didn't bother to make a scene out of the situation as Vanthoor was already contracted to be a Porsche factory driver from next season). In addition to Earl Bamber not winning, he also got a time penalty for dangerous take-over. The take over was perfecty perfect, so the stewards must have had their nervs fully eaten up as the flying Audi was around 50th (!!!) car that crashed into the guardrails during this weekend. More crashes followed in the last race of the day, the Formula 3 World Cup.

Macau madness

Laurens Vanthoor Audi R8 crash

2017 Dubai 24h victory

The 991 GT3 R took 1-2 victory at the 2017 Dubai 24 hour race. The fastest cars in the race were the A6-Pro class cars that included Porsche 991 GT3 R, Mercedes-AMG GT3, Audi R8 LMS and Lamborghini Huracan GT3. The race was won by Herberth Motorsport 991 GT3 R driven by Brendon Hartley, Robert Renauer, Ralf Bohn, Daniel Allemann, Alfred Renauer. The 991 GT3 R of Manthey-Racing (driven by Sven Müller, Matteo Cairoli, Otto Klohs and Jochen Krumbach) had a puncture towards the end of the race and couldn't fight for the victory.

2017 January 14, Dubai 24h winner Herberth Motorsport 991 GT3 R driven by Hartley/Renauer/Bohn/Allemann/Renauer© Porsche

2017 Daytona 24 class victory

Alegra Motorsports won the GTD (GT Daytona) class with the 991 GT3 R driven by Carlos de Quesada, Michael de Quesada, Daniel Morad, Jesse Lazare and Michael Christensen (Porsche factory pilot). The first five GTD cars (Porsche, Audi R8, Mercedes-AMG GT3, Audi, Acura NSX GT3) all covered 634 laps and were within 8 seconds after 24 hours! For Porsche, this was the 77th class victory at Daytona 24 hour race.

2017 Daytona 24 hours GTD class winner Porsche 911 991 GT3 R — 2017 January 29, Daytona 24h GTD-class winner Alegra Motorsport 991 GT3 R driven by de Quesada/de Quesada/Morad/Lazare/Christensen© Porsche

2017 Bathurst 12 hour class victories

2017 was the first time when full professional driver teams (class APP) were allowed and the overall victory was taken with a Ferrari 488 GT3 (290 laps). Second place overall and pro-am class (APA) victory was taken by Patrick Long, Marc Lieb, Matt Campbell and David Calvert-Jones with 991 GT3 R (289 laps). Third place overall was taken with Bentley GT3. Fourth place overall and amateur class (AAM) victory was taken by Liam Talbot, John Martin and Davashen Padayachee with another 991 GT3 R (289 laps).

2017 Bathurst 12 hour APA class winner Porsche 911 991 GT3 R — 2017 February 5, Mount Panorama Circuit, Bathurst 12 hour class APA winning 991 GT3 R #12 of Long/Lieb/Campbell/Calvert-Jones © Porsche

2017 Bathurst 12 hour AAM class winner Porsche 911 991 GT3 R — 2017 Bathurst 12 hour class AAM winning 991 GT3 R #912 of Talbot/Martin/Padayachee © Porsche

2017 May 24, a few days before the Nürburgring 24 hour race: Manthey Racing, Frikadelli Racing, Falken Motorsport © Porsche

2018 upgrade

The parts kit, which can be used to update all 2016 and 2017 911 GT3 R, includes amongst other things a new front lid for the optimisation of thermal management and side flicks to improve the aerobalance.

2018 Manthey 911 GT3 R — Manthey Racing © Porsche

2018 Manthey Porsche 911 GT3 R — Front lid openings of the 2018 version look cool© Porsche

2018 Oschersleben, ADAC GT Masters start, Porsche, Audi, Lamborghini, Mercedes, BMW — 2018 Oschersleben, ADAC GT Masters © Porsche

Manthey Racing Porsche 911 991 GT3 R, Monza 2018 — 2018 Monza, Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup © Porsche

2018 Nürburgring 24h

More than 200.000 spectators and more than 500 drivers in 148 cars - this is the craziest 24 hour race in the world, held at the Nürburgring's combined tracks of Nordschleife and the GP track (combined length 25.3 km/15.7 miles). With 43 vehicles, Porsche was the most strongly represented manufacturer. The driver list included so many famous Porsche drivers: Andre Lotterer, Dennis Olsen, Dirk Müller, Dirk Werner, Earl Bamber, Fred Makowiecki, Jeroen Bleekemolen, Jörg Bergmeister, Kevin Estré, Lars Kern, Laurens Vanthoor, Lucas Luhr, Maro Engel, Matt Campbell, Matteo Cairoli, Michael Christensen, Nick Tandy, Nicki Thiim, Patrick Pilet, Rene Rast, Richard Lietz, Romain Dumas, Sven Müller, Wolf Henzler and others (to be correct, not all of them drove Porsches in this race).

2018 Nürburging, Porsche 911 991.1 GT3 R — Amazing line-up of the GT3 R © Porsche

2018 Nürburging Nordschleife jump, Porsche 911 991.1 GT3 R — Airborne. Among the drivers of #12 were Dennis Olsen (2017 Porsche Carrera Cup Germany winner) and Lars Kern (known for setting Nordschleife street legal car record with 991 GT2 RS).© Porsche

2018 Nürburging 24h start, Porsche 911 991.1 GT3 R — 2018 May 12: the cars are lining up for the start. The pole-setting 911 #911 led the field from the start of the race. During the night the car hit oil, slid from the track and crashed into the barriers, putting an end to the strong, dominant charge of Kévin Estre, Romain Dumas, Laurens Vanthoor and Earl Bamber. The Falken Motorsports GT3 R #44 finished 9th after 24 hours as the second best Porsche. One of its drivers, Dirk Werner, said after the race: “It’s always a great feeling to race in the Green Hell. Anything can happen here and it usually does." True, true.© Porsche

2018 Nürburging 24h, Porsche 911 991.1 GT3 R — © Porsche

2018 Silverstone, Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup, Manthey Porsche 911 991.1 GT3 R — 2018 Silverstone, Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup, Manthey garage. Flat underbody minimizes the aerodynamic lift. © Porsche

2018 Silverstone, Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup, Herberth Porsche 911 991.1 GT3 R — Herberth Motorsport GT3 R© Porsche

2018 Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup Barcelona, Porsche 911 991.1 GT3 R — 2018 Barcelona, Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup© Porsche

2018 Macau FIA GT World Cup, Porsche 911 991.1 GT3 R — Idyllic shot from 2018 Macau FIA GT World Cup© Porsche

2019 Bathurst 12 hour winning Porsche 911 GT3 R — 2019 February 3, Bathurst 12 hour winning GT3 R was driven by Dirk Werner, Matt Campbell and Dennis Olsen© Porsche

Continue to 991.2 GT3 R

Anniversaries: Oct, 29 – 79th birthday of Hans-Peter Porsche (1940); Nov, 15 – 44th birthday of the 924 (1975); Nov, 19 – 11th birthday of the Cayman 987.2 (2008); Nov, 19 – 11th birthday of the Boxster 987.2 (2008); Nov, 26 – 56th birthday of the 904 (1963)