The new Porsche 911 GT3 Cup is entering the 2008 motorsport season with engine output increased to 420 bhp. The car will be raced in the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup, the world’s fastest international brand trophy, and worldwide in national Porsche Carrera Cups and GT3 Cup Challenges. 265 units of this production-based racing car developed in Weissach will be built on Porsche’s production line in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, marking a new record for a car of this category.

The most significant modification compared with last year’s model is the new rear end following the design of the production model. Air venting slits ensure better dissipation of heat at the rear. The 3.6-litre six-cylinder boxer engine developed in Weissach is also based on the street-legal GT3 and develops maximum output of 420 bhp, 20 horsepower more than on the previous model. The sequential six-speed transmission with interruption of engine power enables the driver to shift up under full throttle without disengaging the clutch. The transmission itself has been optimised and the gear ratios adjusted to the characteristics of the engine. Weighing 1,150 kg in race trim, the new 911 GT3 Cup has a power-to-weight ratio of 2.7 kg per horsepower.

The 26 units of the 911 GT3 Cup built for the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup feature a special exhaust system with an even more striking sound pattern reminiscent of the Formula 1 racing scene as well as PCCB Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes as exclusive highlights. Compared with conventional brake discs, PCCB reduces unsprung masses by 20 kg and sets new standards in terms of responsiveness, resistance to fading, and a long service life. The racing cars entered worldwide in the Carrera Cup feature a modified exhaust system and steel brake discs.

Porsche’s Racing Department in Weissach is responsible for the fine-tuning and running in the 911 GT3 Cup cars. Deliveries will be directly from Weissach, depending on the country of destination and the schedules to be observed. While the cars for the Carrera Cup New Zealand have already been shipped, delivery of the racing cars for the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup and the Carrera Cup Germany is scheduled for early March 2008.

Dr. Ing. h. c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, adds another member of the 911 family to its range of products. The new GT3 Cup S, based on the road-going GT3 RS sportscar, is created exclusively for racing purposes. The Weissach-developed and built vehicle will race in international champion-ships which run in accordance with FIA GT3 regulations.

To a large extent, the 3.6-litre boxer engine is identical to the power unit used in the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup and the international Carrera Cup championships. Power output has increased by 20 horsepower to now 440 hp (324 kW) at 8,000 rpm. Maximum torque is up by ten Nm to 430 at 7,250 revs per minute. The power increase results from optimised engine electronics and a modified exhaust system.

In contrast to the GT3 Cup, the body of the Cup S is not based on the road-going GT3 but on the GT3 RS. In the wider wheel arches, considerably larger wheels can now be mounted. At the front, the rims measure 10.5 inches in width with 12 inch wheels fitted at the rear. The front section and flares are significantly different to the GT3 Cup components. An adjustable front-splitter generates more downforce at the front axle. The rear-wing is wider and positioned higher than the Cup version and provides more downforce at the rear axle.

Several suspension components for the GT3 Cup S have been taken from the more powerful GT3 RSR which races in the GT2 class at international long-distance championships. The braking system of the GT3 Cup S was adjusted to the increased power compared to the GT3 Cup. At the rear the diameter of the brake discs has grown by five millimetres to now measure 355mm.

The new GT3 Cup S costs 250,000 Euro plus national VAT and is scheduled for delivery to customer teams from April. Additionally, Porsche offers a kit to upgrade the 2007 Cup models to the GT3 Cup S standard.

Technical Specifications Porsche GT3 Cup S
Power Unit
Water-cooled six-cylinder boxer; 3,598 cc; stroke 76.4 mm; bore 99.98 mm; max output 440 bhp (324 kW); max torque 430 Nm; max engine speed 8,400 rpm; four-valve technology; dry sump lubrication; two-stage resonance intake distributor; central air intake; electronic MS 3.1 engine management; fuel injection (multi-point, sequential); fuel grade 98 RON premium plus unleaded.

Power Transmission
Six-speed gearbox with sequential jaw-type shift; compressed oil lubrication; oil/water heat exchanger; single-mass flywheel; hydraulic disengagement lever; 5.5-inch three-plate carbon-fibre clutch; limited-slip differential 40/60 %; rear-wheel drive.

Body
Monocoque body made of hot-galvanised steel; aerodynamically optimised front end with front spoiler; doors with side frames made of CFP and plastic wing mirrors; aerodynamically optimised front underfloor; adjustable rear wing; 100-litre safety fuel tank; air jack; welded-in safety cage; bucket-type racing seat (on driver's side only) with flame-resistant seat cover; six-point seat belt adapted for use of the HANS Head and Neck Support; electric fire-extinguishing system

Suspension
Front: McPherson spring strut axle; Sachs gas pressure dampers; double coil springs (main and ancillary spring); front axle arms adjustable for camber; adjustable sword-type anti-roll bar; power steering.

Rear: Multi-arm axle with rigidly mounted axle sub-frame; Sachs gas pressure dampers; double coil springs (main and ancillary spring); rear axle track arm adjustable for camber; rear axle tie-bar reinforced and infinitely adjustable; adjustable sword-type anti-roll bar.

Complete suspension infinitely adjustable (height, camber, track).

Brakes
Brake system with balance bar control.

Front: Single-piece six-piston aluminium fixed callipers;inner-vented, 380 mm in diameter; racing brake pads.

Rear: Single-piece four-piston aluminium fixed callipers; inner-vented, 355 mm in diameter; racing brake pads.

Wheels
Front: Three-piece BBS light-alloy wheels (10.5J x 18); central locking;

Rear: Three-piece BBS light-alloy wheels (12J x 18); central locking;

Electrical System
Motec display with integrated data recording; battery: 12 volt, 50 Ah, 140 Ah alternator.

Weight
Approx 1,170 kg

Stronger, wider, faster – the new version of the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup offers its many customers the world over even greater value than ever before. The successor to the best-selling racing car of all time built in a production series of more than 1,400 units is based for the first time on the 911 GT3 RS, with the weight of the racing model reduced significantly versus the lightweight road-going version.

This is the first GT3 Cup to feature the 44-millimetre (1.73") wider body at the rear, providing sufficient space for even larger wheels. Wider wheel arches also at the front clearly show that the front wheels are likewise new.

Engine capacity is up by 0.2 litres over the former model, engine output is 30 bhp more than before. The most important facts and figures: 3.8-litre six-cylinder horizontally-opposed power unit developing 450 bhp (331 kW), sequential six-speed manual gearbox, weight 1,200 kg (2,646 lb), racing version of the 911 GT3 RS.

The new GT3 Cup is clearly recognisable at very first sight through the special looks and design of the front end. The striking daytime driving lights come straight from the current generation of the 911, the front body panels are the same as on the 911 GT3 RS. The front spoiler lip is however 15 millimetres or almost 0.6" lower to provide significantly more downforce on the front axle. Downforce on the rear axle is also increased by the rear wing extended in width from 1.46 to 1.70 metres (57.5 to 66.9") and fitted higher up as a feature carried over from the even faster 911 GT3 Cup S in international FIA GT3 racing. The rear air dam with its striking air vent openings as well as the rear lights in LED technology, in turn, come straight from the road model.

The power unit featured in the new 911 GT3 Cup is largely identical to the production engine in the 911 GT3 RS – same output of 450 bhp and same maximum engine speed of 8,500 rpm. Capacity of the Cup engine, however, is up from 3.6 litres on the former model to 3.8 litres on the new car, helping to increase engine power by 30 bhp.

A racing exhaust system with a fully controlled catalytic converter helps to reduce harmful emissions to a minimum. As an exclusive feature in the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup held on the occasion of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship races, the new 911 GT3 Cup comes with a modified, special exhaust system offering an even more dynamic and muscular sound. Another feature exclusive to the Supercup version is PCCB Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes also available on Porsche's road models. Compared with the composite cast brake discs featured on the Carrera Cup cars, this reduces the weight of the car by approximately 20 kg or 44 lb.

The wheel arches wider at the front and the flared wheel arches at the rear provide ample space for even wider wheels. Hence, the front axle comes with three-piece light-alloy rims measuring 9.5 J x 18 (previously 9 J x 18) and running on 24/64-18 Michelin racing tyres. The three-piece light-alloy rims on the rear axle are up by one inch in width, now measuring 12 J x 18 and running on 27/68-18 tyres.

Additional Unibal joints are featured on the track control arms and the sword-shaped anti-roll bars front and rear are now adjustable to seven different positions on both sides, allowing an even more precise set-up of the car in accordance with the respective race track.

The cockpit of the new 911 GT3 Cup caters even more than before for the specific needs of the driver. An additional vent in the upper part of the front lid, for example, provides the driver with an even better supply of fresh air. The controls for the Info Display are now positioned directly on the steering wheel housing a total of six switches. And in addition to fore-and-aft adjustment, the steering wheel may now also be adjusted for height as on the regular production car.

The new Porsche 911 GT3 Cup available exclusively in Carrara White will be delivered to customers as of the end of October. In the upcoming season it will be raced in no less than seven cup trophies – not only in the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup on the occasion of Formula 1 races, but also in the Porsche Carrera Cups in Germany, Asia, Japan, and Italy, as well as the GT3 Cup Challenges in the USA and the Middle East.

Gianluca Roda is the first Italian to win the Porsche Cup, which has been awarded by Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, since 1970. As the brainchild of Ferry Porsche, the company honours the best private Porsche race driver each year with this trophy.

The businessman from Como yielded many successes with the Porsche race car fielded by the Autorlando Sport team based in Pedrengo near Bergamo in northern Italy. With five victories and a total of eight podium results from 14 races, Roda secured the GT3 title of the Italian Gran Turismo championship. In his bid for the title, the 51-year-old could rely on support from Porsche: Works driver Richard Lietz (Austria) shared driving duties with Roda at eight races in the cockpit of the 911 GT3 R. His factory pilot colleagues Patrick Pilet (France) and Wolf Henzler (Germany) supported Roda at two rounds, with Raffaele Giammaria (Italy) providing reinforcement at another two races.

With Richard Lietz (Austria), Roda contested the International GT Open in a Porsche 911 GT3 RSR. After 16 races in six European countries, the pair concluded the season with vice championship honours in the top “Super GT” category by a very narrow margin.

Four wins from four guest appearances in the Spanish GT Championship were also part of the amiable Italian’s impressive track record. In Estoril and Jerez, Roda shared the cockpit of the Autorlando Porsche with his compatriot Raffaele Giammaria. With fourth place in the GT class at the season final of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup in Zhuhai, China, Roda earned extra points in the fight for the Porsche Cup at the wheel of a Felbermayr-Proton Porsche 911 GT3 RSR.

Taking home the Porsche Cup, Gianluca Roda joins the ranks of many top race drivers to have received the coveted trophy, including Bob Wollek, Bernd Schneider, Jochen Mass as well as current Porsche works pilots Wolf Henzler and Marc Lieb.

Raymond Narac from France ranks second in the 2010 Porsche Cup. As owner of the well-established IMSA Performance Matmut squad, the 43-year-old businessman was a regular driver in his own racing Porsche and enjoyed great success. He kicked off the season with overall victory at the Dubai 24 hour race, and followed up with second overall at the Spa 24 Hours in Belgium. Until the season finale of the International GT Open, Narac – supported by Porsche works driver Patrick Pilet – was tied for points with Gianluca Roda in second place, to finish the year a close fourth.

After an extremely successful season in the American Le Mans Series, Klaus Graf (Germany) takes home a well deserved third place in the Porsche Cup. The 41-year-old professional racer notched up a class victory at the wheel of the Porsche RS Spyder fielded by Muscle Milk Team Cytosport at the season-opening 12 Hours of Sebring. Over the course of the season, he yielded two overall victories from Lime Rock and Mosport. After the ninth and final round, Graf earned himself the vice-championship title in Class Two for Le Mans prototypes.

Gianluca Roda is awarded the Porsche Cup on 11 December at the “Night of Champions” in the R&D Centre, Weissach. In addition to the valuable challenge cup, the best Porsche private driver of the year takes home a Porsche 911 GT3. The 2010 Porsche Cup carries a total value of over 250,000 Euro, with positions two to ten receiving prize money. Drivers earned points towards this year’s traditional competition in 19 Grand Touring and prototype race series worldwide as well as at selected long distance races.

Carrera Cup Deutschland: Armindo claims championship title,
Engelhart celebrates first win

Stuttgart. The Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland concluded the season with a turbulent, cliff-hanger race. The ecstatic winners of the final round are Nicolas Armindo and Christian Engelhart, the Nick Tandy as the unlucky loser. For Frenchman Armindo, fifth place in Hockenheim was enough to win the championship. “It’s a dream come true,” said the 28-year-old. Christian Engelhart’s elation was no less enthusiastic. In his third season contesting Germany’s fastest brand trophy series, the German (MRS Team PZ Aschaffenburg) was delighted with his first win.

Second place in the 22-lap sprint went to the guest driver for Hermes Attempto Racing, Jeroen Bleekemolen. The Dutchman gave chase to Engelhart in the second half of the race, nibbling away at his advantage lap for lap until, with four laps to go to the flag, Bleekemolen was practically glued to the rear bumper of the leader’s 911. The duel between the two fair rivals during the last ten minutes was a display of motorsport at its finest. At the flag, Bleekemolen, as the double champion of the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup, was just 0.2 seconds shy of the 23-year-old German. Trailing the two in third was another guest driver and vice-champion of the 2008 Carrera Cup season, Jan Seyffarth (Germany) from Team SMS Seyffarth Motorsport.

Nick Tandy, however, left Hockenheim deeply disappointed. For the five-time winner this season, everything went very wrong right from the start. With too much wheel spin, the Briton got away badly from second, and found himself embroiled in the start chaos at the first corner. Shortly before entering the Motodrom, a rival hit his 911 in the heat of the battle. Through this collision he was forced into the pits. Tandy was the most popular but by far not the only victim of the turbulent finale. Guest driver and pole-sitter René Rast (Germany, Farnbacher Racing PZN) was holding a clear lead when he slipped on coolant on the track and the journey into the gravel trap at the Motodrom entrance damaged his 911’s fan belt, signalling the end of his charge. Britain’s Sean Edwards (Team Deutsche Post by tolimit), who had taken up the race from fourth, also fell victim to the skirmishes of the first two laps. And as Slovakia’s Stefan Rosina (Förch Racing) was on his way to a probable podium result, his race ended prematurely in a tyre stack in the Sachs corner.

Martin Ragginger, however, was thrilled with the conciliatory conclusion to the season - just as he had hoped for. Driving for Schnabl Engineering, the Austrian added a fine fourth place to his three podium results from the first half of the season. Behind him, Nicolas Armindo brought home fifth ahead of his teammate Philipp Wlazik, who celebrated his 24th birthday yesterday. Sixth in Hockenheim was the eighth top ten placing for the German. Sascha Maassen was also pleased to have avoided the many scuffles along the way. Competing for Team Deutsche Post by tolimit, the German yielded a decent seventh ahead of his compatriot, David Mengesdorf (SMS Seyffarth Motorsport).

Another driver with good reason to celebrate was the journalist and amateur racer Chris Harris. Reporting worldwide of his experiences in the cockpit of the black VIP-Porsche fielded by Porsche AG, the Briton finished a sensational 14th – despite it being his first ever race with the 450 hp Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. “Fantastic, I had a ball,” said Harris. “But most of all I take my hat off to this top class field.”

Christian Engelhart (winner): “What a huge race. It’s awesome to win from sixth on the grid. I was almost kicked out in the first lap when someone nudged my 911 from behind but managed to recover. Luckily for me, Jan Seyffarth slid on coolant in front of me so I was well warned by this. When Jeroen suddenly closed in on me I had to somehow shake him off and that’s when I set my fastest race lap in the final lap.”

Jeroen Bleekemolen (second): “Now that was a fun race. I quickly moved into third but fell back to sixth when someone shoved me. At first I was behind Nicolas but then I noticed that my car was running so well that I could make up places. It wasn’t enough to win but second place is great.”

Jan Seyffarth (third): “What a shame, René and I could easily have won the race. But at the entrance to the Motodrom the marshals didn’t bring out any flags although there was coolant on the track. René and I slid on it. He went off and luckily I continued and demonstrated that I could still bring home third place at my guest start. Perhaps I’ll come back next year.”

Race result

1. Christian Engelhart (D), MRS Team PZ Aschaffenburg, 33.44.017 minutes (146.190 km/h)
2. Jeroen Bleekemolen (NL), Hermes Attempto Racing, + 0.296 seconds
3. Jan Seyffarth (D), SMS Seyffarth Motorsport, + 7.203
4. Martin Ragginger (A), Schnabl Engineering, + 9.477
5. Nicolas Armindo (F), Hermes Attempto Racing, + 10.622
6. Philipp Wlazik (D), Hermes Attempto Racing, + 14.578
7. Sascha Maassen (D), Team Deutsche Post by tolimit, + 15.501

Drivers’ classification after 9 of 9 races
1. Nicolas Armindo (F), 142 points
2. Nick Tandy (GB), 121
3. Uwe Alzen (D), 98
4. Robert Renauer (D), 96
5. Martin Ragginger (A), 79
6. Philipp Wlazik (D), 77

Team classification after 9 of 9 races
1. Hermes Attempto Racing, 244 points
2. Herberth Motorsport PZ Olympiapark, 205
3. Konrad Motorsport, 192

The Porsche 911 GT3 Cup is the most successful race car in the world. Since 1998, 2,395 units of the near standard vehicle for customer sport were produced. The new edition of the 911 GT3 Cup is the motorsports version of the future 911 GT3 and as such is the first race car that is based on the seventh generation of the sports car icon from Zuffenhausen. The 911 GT3 Cup will be run exclusively in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup in 2013. The car for one-make racing made its debut on the occasion of the end of motorsport season “Night of Champions” celebration at the R&D Centre in Weissach.

The new Porsche 911 GT3 Cup is powered by a 3.8-litre six-cylinder flat engine. It generates 460 hp (338 kW) at 7,500 revs, surpassing the predecessor by 10 hp. A six-speed dog-type gearbox developed by Porsche Motorsport which is operated via shift paddles at the steering wheel for the first time in a Porsche brand trophy race car transmits the power to the rear axle. The single piece race wheels with centre mount were also newly designed by Porsche Motorsport. The width of the Michelin race slicks was increased by two centimetres to 27 centimetres at the front and by ten millimetres at the rear axle to now measure 31 centimetres.

A newly developed race braking system further improves the excellent endurance qualities compared to its successful predecessor. The 380 millimetre slotted and inner-vented steel brake rotors at the front axle are decelerated by six-piston aluminium fixed callipers. The rear axle features a four-piston version.
During the development of the new car a particular emphasis was put on the driver safety. A newly designed safety cage protects the pilot in case of a roll or a collision as does a newly developed race seat which is distinctively shaped around the head and shoulders and can be adjusted individually with the help of padding. A rescue hatch in the roof provides easy access for primary medical attention and for the extrication of the driver.

“The new 911 GT3 Cup is much easier to drive at the limit,” says Porsche works driver Timo Bernhard, who was significantly involved in the development of the new vehicle. “The car is excellently balanced. The new axle geometry is enormously positive for the handling. Apart from that the new Cup 911 is great fun to drive.”

Like its predecessor the new Porsche 911 GT3 Cup is produced in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen on the same assembly line as the road legal models. At the Motorsport Centre in Weissach it receives a general set-up for the circuit and is tested by a professional race driver before delivery to the customers. The basic price for the vehicle, which is available exclusively in white, is 181,200 Euro plus the country-specific value added tax.

The first race of the ADAC GT Masters is barely over it already goes ahead to the Porsche Carrera Cup for the MRS team. Next weekend the new season begins, with the first and second run of the Porsche Carrera Cup at the Hockenheimring. The 2014 season promises a lot of action and suspense; the new Porsche 991 GT3 Cup will be used for the first time in the Carrera Cup and that in a starting field with 37 cars.

This year the MRS team counts on two talented and fast drivers. On the one hand Elia Erhard, who will drive his third season in the Porsche Carrera Cup Hockenheim and therefore shows considerable experience. Therefrom the second MRS driver will profit: the Frenchman Jim Pla will participate for the first time in the Porsche Carrera Cup. Already last year he had impressed by being the “Rookie of the year” in the French Porsche Carrera Cup.

The different sessions of the Porsche Carrera Cup Germany can be followed via live timing on Racecam. The Porsche-Homepage will show the race live on Saturday and on Sunday. On Monday after the race weekend the German channel N-TV broadcasts at 18.30 pm the 30 minutes magazine show “PS – Porsche Carrera Cup”, where the highlights and results of the race weekend will be reported.