Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

The Porsche 911 GT3 Cup is a near-series GT racing car from Porsche that is used in the Porsche Carrera Cup and Supercup . Derivatives are used by private teams in various other racing series.

Since the start of production in 1998, the 911 GT3 Cup has meanwhile developed into the best-selling racing car.

Model history

Vehicle class

Timeline of the Porsche 911 GT racing car

1990s

2000s

2010s

5

6th

7th

8th

9

0

1

2

3

4th

5

6th

7th

8th

9

0

1

2

3

4th

5

6th

7th

8th

9

FIA GT1

993 GT2 Evo

993 GT1

996 GT1 Evo

996 GT1 '98

FIA GT2 / GT (until 2004)
ACO GTS (until 2004)

993 GT2

FIA N-GT (until 2004)
ACO GT (until 2004)
FIA GT2 (from 2005)
ACO GTE (from 2011)

991 RSR

FIA GT3

Porsche 996 GT3 Cup

From 1998, the racing version of the new came Porsche 996 GT3 is used, which with its now water-cooled boxer engine , the era of air-cooled replaced boxer engines.

Its water-cooled naturally aspirated engine had dry sump lubrication with a separate oil tank. The engine output of initially 265 kW (360 hp) was 272 kW (370 hp) from 1999. Super Plus was used as fuel . The engine enabled an acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h in less than four seconds and a top speed of 286 km / h. The adjustable rear wing produced up to 1000 Newtons of downforce.

The 996 GT3 Cup was modified for the 2001 season. The large rear wing doubled the downforce on the rear axle and thus ensured better road holding and less tire wear. The engine, transmission and brakes received improved cooling thanks to a new front section. 113 vehicles of this version were produced.

In 2002 the 996 GT3 Cup was improved again and received the teardrop-shaped headlights of the turbo versions. The new front section improved the flow of cooling air by 15 percent. A new rear wing, which can be adjusted in seven stages, reduced the lift, which enabled higher cornering speeds. The weight of the vehicle remained constant thanks to the lightening of the doors, windscreen and exterior mirrors. The engine control of the 996 GT3 RS was also used in the 996 GT3 Cup, which resulted in an increase in output of ten to 279 kW (380 PS) and a higher maximum torque of 380 Newton meters. Another major change involved the brakes. On the front axle, the diameter of the brake discs increased to 350 mm, while on the rear axle it remained unchanged at 330 mm. Together with six-piston fixed calipers on the front brake discs and improved ventilation of the front wheel arches, the braking power could be increased. For use in long-distance races, the transmission was spray-cooled with an oil-water heat exchanger.

In 2004 the 996 GT3 Cup received its last revision, which mainly affected the vehicle weight, which could be kept at 1150 kg. The rear cover, engine compartment lid and doors were made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) and all windows, with the exception of the front window, were made of plastic. The engine output rose to 287 kW (390 hp) at 7200 rpm and the maximum torque was now 390 Nm at 6500 rpm. Since the long straights of the Hockenheimring were no longer part of the program, gears four to six were reduced. The continuously adjustable chassis enabled fine tuning. For use in long-distance sports, the tank volume has been increased from 64 to 89 liters. The interior ventilation has also been improved. For safety, the roll cage was padded and the HANS system could now be used.

Technical specifications

model	Porsche 996 GT3 Cup
Construction year	1998	1999-2001	2002-2003	2004
engine	3.6 liter six-cylinder boxer engine	3.6 liter six-cylinder boxer engine	3.6 liter six-cylinder boxer engine	3.6 liter six-cylinder boxer engine
power	360 hp (265 kW) at 7200 rpm	370 hp (272 kW) at 7200 rpm	380 hp (279 kW) at 7200 rpm	390 hp (287 kW) at 7200 rpm
Torque	360 Nm at 6250 rpm	370 Nm at 6250 rpm	380 Nm at 6250 rpm	390 Nm at 6500 rpm
Empty weight	1140 kg	1140 kg	1140 kg	1150 kg

Porsche 997 GT3 Cup / Cup S / R

Porsche 997 GT3 Cup

Porsche 997 GT3 Cup (2010)

The cup version of the Porsche 997 GT3 made its debut in the Porsche Supercup in 2005 and has also been used in the Porsche Carrera Cup since 2006.

The total downforce increased by around 40 percent compared to the previous model, which was achieved through a new front section with an adjustable spoiler and a 60 mm wider and 35 mm higher rear wing. Due to the increased use of parts made of CFRP, the vehicle weight remained at 1150 kg. In addition, air flow to and exhaust from the cooler and brakes has been improved. The engine developed 294 kW (400 hp) at 7300 rpm and delivered a maximum torque of 400 Newton meters at 6500 rpm. The maximum speed was 8200 rpm. In addition, a sequential six-speed gearbox with interruption of tractive power has now been installed. The wheel carriers were taken over from the more powerful 911 RSR . Ceramic brake discs were also used, but no anti-lock braking system, as it is not allowed in GT racing series, where the 911 GT3 Cup is now increasingly used.

In 2008 the 997 GT3 Cup was revised. The engine output was increased to 309 kW (420 hp) and the maximum torque to 420 Nm. Of this vehicle, 265 were to be built in the first year and 215 in the following year.

In 2010 the cup model was revised. It was now based on the 2009 GT3 RS and, in addition to its modified body shape, also received the 3.8-liter engine of the street model. The engine output of the new Cup Porsche therefore increased to 331 kW (450 hp). Besides the Supercup, Porsche planned to equip the Carrera Cups in Germany, Asia, Japan and Italy with the new vehicle in 2010. The cars will also be used in the GT3 Cup Challenges in the USA and the Middle East.

Porsche 997 GT3 Cup S.

The 997 GT3 Cup S appeared in 2008 as the new racing version of the 911 GT3 . The vehicle is based on the 997 GT3 RS road sports car and is based on the GT3 group regulations . So the car can be used in international championships. The engine output has been increased by an improved engine management system and a modified exhaust system by 15 to 324 kW (440 hp) at 8000 rpm. The maximum torque of 430 Nm is at 7250 rpm. Compared to the 997 GT3 Cup, the vehicle has larger and wider wheels. The contact pressure is greater due to an adjustable front splitter and a wider and higher rear wing. The chassis is largely identical to that of the more powerful 997 GT3 RSR . The diameter of the 355 mm brake discs on the rear axle is five millimeters larger than on the 997 GT3 Cup.

Porsche 997 GT3 R.

Porsche 997 GT3 R at the Autosport International Show 2010

Porsche 911 GT3 R at the Essen Motorshow 2010

In addition to the further development of the Cup vehicle for the 2010 season, the successor to the Cup S was presented in January of that year. This expansion stage, called the 997 GT3 R, is, in contrast to the 996 GT3 R, not a vehicle of the GT2 group , but, like the Cup S, complies with the GT3 regulations.

Porsche 997 GT3 R Hybrid

Porsche developed a hybrid drive with a flywheel accumulator for the 997 GT3 R, which was presented at the Geneva Motor Show. According to Porsche, it will soon be available in conjunction with other models. Since there is no battery, the energy is stored in a flywheel instead of the battery, which rotates at up to 40,000 revolutions per minute. Its memory is charged during braking. For this purpose, two electric motors with 60 kW each work as generators when braking, and the electricity drives the flywheel via another electric motor. When you accelerate, the energy flows in the other direction: the motor on the flywheel acts as a generator, brakes it and thus generates enough electricity to provide six to eight seconds of additional electrical power for the vehicle. The electric drive can also be used to reduce consumption.

On March 27, 2010, the Porsche 997 GT3 R Hybrid made its racing debut at the VLN Endurance Championship Nürburgring . At the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring , the team retired after being in the lead after 22 hours with a technical defect. The oil pump for the dry sump lubrication failed, resulting in engine damage.

Technical specifications

model	Porsche 997 GT3 Cup			Porsche 997 GT3 Cup S.	Porsche 997 GT3 R.
Construction year	2005-2007	2008-2009	Since 2010	2008-2009	Since 2010
engine	3.6 liter six-cylinder boxer engine	3.6 liter six-cylinder boxer engine	3.8 liter six-cylinder boxer engine	3.6 liter six-cylinder boxer engine	4.0 liter six-cylinder boxer engine
power	400 hp (294 kW) at 7300 rpm	420 hp (309 kW) at 7300 rpm	450 PS (331 kW) at 7500 rpm	440 hp (324 kW) at 8000 rpm	480 hp (353 kW)
Torque	400 Nm at 6500 rpm	420 Nm at 6500 rpm		430 Nm at 7250 rpm
Empty weight	Carrera Cup: 1150 kg Supercup: 1120 kg	1150 kg	1200 kg	1170 kg	1200 kg

Porsche 991 GT3 Cup

On December 8, 2012, the new 911 GT3 Cup based on the Porsche 991 was presented as part of the Night of Champions at the Porsche Development Center in Weissach.

The new edition of the 911 GT3 Cup is the motorsport version of the future 911 GT3 and thus the first racing car based on the seventh generation of the 911. The new 911 GT3 Cup will be used exclusively in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup in 2013 . The new one-make cup car had its world premiere as part of the motorsport end-of-season celebration "Night of Champions" in the Weissach development center. The new Porsche 911 GT3 Cup is powered by a 3.8 liter six-cylinder boxer engine. It develops 460 hp (338 kW) at 7,500 revolutions, which is ten hp more than the engine of the previous generation. The power is transmitted to the rear axle by a six-speed claw transmission developed by Porsche Motorsport . It is operated for the first time in a one-make cup vehicle from Porsche using paddle switches on the steering wheel. The one-piece racing bikes with central locking and a diameter of 18 inches were also redesigned by Porsche Motorsport. The width of the Michelin racing slicks increased by two to 27 centimeters on the front axle and by one to 31 centimeters on the rear axle. A newly developed racing brake system ensures even better long-distance suitability compared to its successful predecessor. The 38-centimeter, slotted and internally ventilated brake discs are retarded on the front axle by six-piston aluminum monobloc racing brake calipers, while the brake calipers on the rear axle have four pistons. When developing the new vehicle, particular attention was paid to the safety of the pilots. In the event of rollovers and collisions, a newly calculated roll cage provides protection, as does a new type of racing bucket seat with a particularly strong shape in the head and shoulder area, which can be perfectly adapted to the body shape with special pads. A rescue hatch in the roof makes it easier for road safety to provide first aid and rescue drivers who have had an accident. “The new 911 GT3 Cup is much easier to drive at the limit,” says Porsche works driver Timo Bernhard , who played a key role in the development of the new vehicle. “The car is extremely well balanced. The new axle geometry has an extremely positive effect on driving behavior. On top of that, the new Cup 911 is a lot of fun. ”Like its predecessor, the new Porsche 911 GT3 Cup is built on the same production line in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen as the road models. At the Weissach Motorsport Center, it receives a basic set-up for the racetrack and is tested by a professional racing driver before it is delivered to the customer. The basic price of the vehicle, which is only available in white, is 181,200 euros plus country-specific sales tax.

Racing outside of the brand cups

Porsche 997 GT3 Cup at the 6th round of the 2009 BFGoodrich Endurance Championship

Porsche 911 GT3R at a race of the VLN endurance championship Nürburgring

Due to their high competitiveness at a comparatively low price, Porsche 911 GT3 Cups, which were formerly used in the Carrera Cup and Supercup, are widely used in national GT racing series and in popular sport.

Traditionally, many teams start in a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup in the VLN endurance championship Nürburgring and the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring . The number of participating vehicles of this type is regularly in double digits.

The Spa-Francorchamps 24-hour race has also been a guest starter in a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup in recent years. The Porsche 911 GT3 Cup has also been in action there since races where GT3 regulations are used, such as the FIA GT3 European Championship and the ADAC GT Masters . With the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S, there has been a vehicle specially built for endurance races based on GT3 regulations since 2008.

In 2010 the American Jeff Zwart set a new record in the Time Attack 2WD category at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in a Porsche 997 GT3 Cup with 11: 31.095 minutes . In 2014 he drove with this chassis again, but this time (for reasons of the enormous loss of power at high altitude) with a variant of the turbocharged 997 GT2 engine instead of the original Cup engine.

Web links

Commons : Porsche 996 GT3 Cup - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Commons : Porsche 997 GT3 Cup - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Commons : Porsche 997 GT3 Cup S - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Commons : Porsche 991 GT3 Cup - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

↑ Mecca for sports car fans: Porsche, Porsche, everywhere just Porsche. FTD.de , October 23, 2011, archived from the original on October 24, 2011 ; accessed on November 25, 2011 : "Among the many Porsche racing cars [...] the best-selling racing car in the world, the 911 GT3 Cup, drove for one of the many class wins. With its 450 hp and a purchase price of over 150,000 euros, it is one of the top leagues in current racing, [...]. "
↑ http://www.sportauto-online.de/marken/news/porsche-911-gt3-cup-reif-fuer-die-piste-1045142.html
↑ http://www.sportauto-online.de/motorsport/porsche-gt3-cup-s-neuer-elfer-fuer-die-rennstrecken-1047945.html
^ Official result of the 57th ADAC Westfalenfahrt. (PDF; 141 kB) (No longer available online.) Archived from the original on November 27, 2011 ; Retrieved July 5, 2010 .
↑ New record at Pikes Peak 2010: Porsche 911 GT3 Cup fastest rear-wheel drive car. Sports car online , July 29, 2010, accessed August 1, 2010 .
↑ Zwart again fast on Pikes Peak. In: Michelin Racing USA. June 27, 2014, Retrieved February 15, 2019 (American English).

[1] Mecca for sports car fans: Porsche, Porsche, everywhere just Porsche. FTD.de , October 23, 2011, archived from the original on October 24, 2011 ; accessed on November 25, 2011 : "Among the many Porsche racing cars [...] the best-selling racing car in the world, the 911 GT3 Cup, drove for one of the many class wins. With its 450 hp and a purchase price of over 150,000 euros, it is one of the top leagues in current racing, [...]. "

[2] ttp://www.sportauto-online.de/marken/news/porsche-911-gt3-cup-reif-fuer-die-piste-1045142.html

[3] ttp://www.sportauto-online.de/motorsport/porsche-gt3-cup-s-neuer-elfer-fuer-die-rennstrecken-1047945.html

[4] Official result of the 57th ADAC Westfalenfahrt. (PDF; 141 kB) (No longer available online.) Archived from the original on November 27, 2011 ; Retrieved July 5, 2010 .

[5] New record at Pikes Peak 2010: Porsche 911 GT3 Cup fastest rear-wheel drive car. Sports car online , July 29, 2010, accessed August 1, 2010 .

[6] Zwart again fast on Pikes Peak. In: Michelin Racing USA. June 27, 2014, Retrieved February 15, 2019 (American English).