Porsche 2008 Annual Report Download - page 138

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The GT3 RSR, top of the range among the
current racing variants of the 911, was intro-
duced in 1999 and has been in constant
development ever since. Prior to 2008, this
Porsche had won the GT2 class at Le Mans
eight times, for example. Having inherited a
long and glorious tradition, this 911 also prov-
ed itself to be the winning type in 2009. The
boxer engine, with a displacement that has
been increased from 3.8 to 4 liters in the la-
test model, has an output of around 450 hp
(331 kW) despite the downsizing of the air
intake volume limiter demanded by the rules,
and impresses with its excellent handling
and exemplary efficiency.
Towards the end of summer 2009, Porsche
presented its vehicles for the 2010 season in
the form of the 911 GT3 RS and 911 GT3 Cup.
A sporty, road-going variant and the basis for
the series-based GT racing cars, the GT3 RS
with 450 hp (331 kW) has a number of light-
weight components, a closely layered trans-
mission, a specially constructed and calibrat-
ed chassis and large wheel housings.
The GT3 Cup, based on the 911 GT3 RS and
presented at the IAA motor show in Frankfurt in
September 2009, weighs 1,200 kilograms and
has an engine output of 450 hp (331 kW). It is
the most powerful and fastest racing car in the
history of 911 GT3 Cup models, and is used in
the Porsche Cups as well as a number of GT3
championships.
The long road to success
Since the sensational overall victory of the 911
at the 24-hour race in Daytona in 1973 (the
first victory by a 911 in the manufacturers’ cham-
pionship), the classic sports car has made its
mark on the most famous endurance race in
the world. On the second weekend of January,
more than 80 GT racing cars started the first
24-hour race of 2009 in Dubai. Victory was
claimed by the 911 GT3 Cup of the Land Motor-
sport Team. Seven other 911 made it into
the top ten.
At the 24-hour race in Daytona, Porsche sup-
ported customer teams in both the prototype
and GT classes by providing nine Company
drivers. Following the triumph of a Porsche Riley
in the prototypes, a triple victory in the Gran
Turismo class rounded off the result of the
oldest 24-hour race in America. The Company
drivers Jörg Bergmeister and Patrick Long
won the race in a 911 GT3 Cup Grand-Am for
Team TRG, ahead of their colleagues Emma-
nuel Collard and Richard Lietz, who drove TRG’s
second 911 into second place together with
two American drivers. The third-placed Porsche
from Wright Motorsport was driven by Company
driver Sascha Maassen among others.
The 24-hour race on the Nürburgring in May
also turned out to be a triumph for Porsche. In
a company-supported 911 GT3 RSR from the
Manthey Racing Team, Company drivers Timo
Bernhard, Romain Dumas and Marc Lieb and
Manthey driver Marcel Tiemann proved, in front
of around 235,000 onlookers, to be unstopp-
able. The quartet of drivers achieved the fourth
victory in a row for the Manthey team on the
hardest racing track in the world. Porsche had
a total of seven Porsche 911 in the top ten.
A 911 GT3 Cup S came in third, while fourth
place went to a series-based 911 GT3 Cup,
which was able to leave much more powerful
racing cars than itself in the dust.
Porsche customers enjoyed a further victory
at the 24-hour race in Zolder, Belgium. Rudi
Penders, Franz Lamot, David Loix and Louis
Machiels set a new long-distance record in
a 911 GT3 RSR of the Prospeed Competition
team. A 911 GT3 Cup S entered by First Motor-
sport completed the double victory by com-
ing in second.
A thrilling race was driven by Jörg Bergmeister,
Marc Lieb and Patrick Long at the 24-hour race
in Sebring, Florida. The trio of Company drivers
lost twelve minutes on the second lap due to
an accident that was not their fault and the re-
sulting repairs. After a series of record-break-
Motor Sports
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