At Rennsport Reunion 7, the latest iteration of the Porsche 911—the GT3 R rennsport—was announced. This follows the recently unveiled Porsche 911 S/T, which asserts that the German automaker’s 75th anniversary will go down in history as one of best birthday bashes ever.
Bearing the namesake of the event that it headlined, the Porsche 911 GT3 R rennsport leaves nothing on the table when it comes to defying conventional 911 thinking. It’s wild to think how Porsche could’ve pulled that off, given how capable and raw the latest 911 GT3 RS is as a production car and even how the aforementioned S/T, in its own way, took things even further.
It’d turn out to be something so very special, that in the end, the GT3 R rennsport precludes any street legality by nature of its derivation from the GT3 R race car. As “not a race car” and not being certified for public road use, the GT3 R rennsport exists in a bit of a grey area where they’re best suited for private collectors—the super-limited production run of just 77 units, costing a cool $1,046,000 each, all but seals the car’s fate as such.
However, we might also be able to live vicariously through those who have the means to trailer their unicorn car to events, meets, or perhaps even motorsport venues to participate in unsanctioned “gentlemen” races where—on paper, at least—the GT3 R rennsport would absolutely dominate on the track. One could only hope to witness this in their lifetime, never mind, be the lead actor in such a dream scenario.
The new Porsche 911 GT3 R rennsport offers the experience of driving a nine-eleven-based racing car in what is probably the most primal form.”
– Thomas Laudenbach, Head of Motorsports
Performance & Chassis
Amongst a number of notable features, the GT3 R rennsport utilizes a special 4.2L flat-6 engine, previously exclusive to the race car it is based on. No longer bound by series rules and restrictions, the naturally-aspirated boxer produces 612 bhp—up from the GT3 R’s 557 bhp—and now screams on its way to an astronomical 9,400 rpm redline. The exhaust note is about as mesmerizing a sound as you can imagine.
Porsche said that some tuning wizardry and the use of bespoke pistons and cams, is what was required to unleash the unit’s true potential. Mated to all this insanity is a 6-speed sequential dog-type transmission. The GT3 R rennsport faithfully carries over the vast majority of chassis components like-for-like from the race car, remaining the beneficiary of a 5-way KW suspension system, AP Racing brakes, Michelin Pilot Sport M S9 slicks, and other exotic racewares. As a 992-gen variant, the front and rear double wishbone setup also continues to be a highlight of the car.
Body & Styling
Many are claiming that the GT3 R rennsport is the spiritual successor of the Porsche 935 released back in 2019, which itself, is a car that harkens back to the 935/77 “Moby Dick” Brumos Porsche that raced at Daytona 24H, circa 1978. Conspiracy theorists will also be quick to point out that the Porsche 935 was also unveiled at a previous rendition of Rennsport Reunion, and that it too, was limited to a production run of just 77 units. Dun-dun-dun.
But there’s nothing speculative about its styling, with the GT3 rennsport’s family lineage leaving nothing up for debate. The Martini Racing colorways are the most obvious homage to its predecessors, as are the angular wheel arches and that whale-tail of a rear wing. Even so, practically every design cue has been reimagined to a degree, making its silhouette ultimately distinct from previous iterations and the GT3 R race car.
For starters, the front fascia has been modified with unique ducts and intakes. From the side profile, you’ll be able to see a beautiful set of 18″ BBS wheels made specially for the GT3 rennsport. Out back, there’s a more streamlined rear apron which integrates seamlessly into the rear wing assembly, with an LED light bar accentuating the menacing yet somehow minimalistic posterior. Inside, there’s just the one driver’s seat, plenty of race gadgetry—digital and otherwise—and a competition-grade roll cage. The entire car weighs in at only 1,240 kg.
Pricing & Availability
The new Porsche 911 GT3 R rennsport is going to set you back over a million dollars. However, a variety of available paint colors and other bespoke decorative options, mean that the vast majority of examples will be in excess of the previously stated $1,046,000 price tag. Only 77 examples will be making their way to some of Porsche’s most esteemed customers, sometime early next year.