This video features the rare Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid, a 2010 experimental race car developed as a rolling testbed for Porsche’s early hybrid technology. Built on the 997-generation GT3 race car, it combines a 480-hp flat-six engine driving the rear wheels with two 60 kW electric motors powering the front wheels.
The hybrid system uses regenerative braking to store energy in a flywheel generator spinning at up to 40,000 rpm. When activated by a steering-wheel button, the system provides several seconds of electric boost to the front wheels, improving acceleration and efficiency. The car was designed to test hybrid systems for endurance racing and future road cars.
Driven at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the prototype showcases complex race controls, strong braking performance, and a distinctive mix of electric boost and flat-six sound. Though challenging to drive smoothly at low speeds, it comes alive at pace, demonstrating the early stages of Porsche’s hybrid performance technology and its evolution over the past decade.
Source: CAR magazine
