The Porsche 911 GT3 R Rennsport is Limited Edition with Unlimited Thrills

In the “choose your own adventure” book of Porsche track cars, while some paths may get you to the pot of gold faster or more dynamically, there’s hardly a wrong way to go. But for those who want to skip right to the last page where you slay the dragon and are crowned king, you may consider taking this shortcut– the 911 GT3 R rennsport.

To get the bad news out of the way first, this ultimate 911 track toy is both limited in production and in accessibility via cost. Restricted to just 77 units, the 911 GT3 R rennsport will cost $1,046,000 before destination charges and any applicable fees.

Alright, so this isn’t the 911 any Average Joe can just waltz into their local dealership and buy after selling off their moderately successful family business. And that’s perfectly fine, as this version is, somewhat obviously, not built for the streets. It’s built for the track; however, where the GT3 R is designed for FIA “Balance of Performance” competition rules, the rennsport goes beyond those limitations just for the heck of it.

While the bodywork and underlying construction is a big part of the equation, let’s start with the powertrain. The 911 GT3 R rennsport uses a 4.2-liter six-cylinder boxer– the same used in the 911 GT3 R; only this time, various motorsport series restrictions have been removed, increasing total output to 611 horsepower. This water-cooled engine has been designed to run on E25 fuel, including bioethanol and eFuel; however, conventional fuel is still acceptable. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a sequential six-speed constant-mesh gearbox– again, borrowed from the GT3 R with minimal modifications. Running through the gears is done via steering wheel paddle shifters, and it will be either insanely loud thanks to an unmuffled version of the exhaust or just moderately loud with two quieter versions (and catalytic converters are also available).

The chassis is essentially that of the GT3 racing car, utilizing a double wishbone suspension system upfront and a multi-link getup in the rear. The KW shock absorbers are five-way adjustable and come equipped with a blow-off function; and while Porsche will ship the car with a basic setup, it can be tuned and shimmed by the operator (or team) for the best performance. Equally important to keeping a car on tarmac are the tires, and in the case of the GT3 R rennsport, that means Michelin racing tires made exclusively for it and wrapping 18-inch BBS wheels. The tire’s new construction is said to result in improved warm-up and drive-ability, all while the sidewalls blend in with the vehicle’s side profile.

Now onto the body. It may be hard to tell, but the roof and hood are the only carryovers from the standard GT3 R. Everything else has been modified, be it for aerodynamic efficiency or weight savings. A most bodacious wing has been installed on the rear, reminiscent in design to the same wing outfitted on the Brumos Porsche 935/77 of 1978 Daytona fame. The rest of the body is radically reshaped, including the deletion of exterior mirrors now replaced by three cameras integrated into the body, the monitors of which reside in the cockpit. Inside, you can expect to find  a single-seat and a full roll cage. With all these modifications, engineers are aiming for a curb weight of just 2,734 lbs. 

Anyone fortunate enough to place an order on one of these will be able to have its appearance customized to a certain extent. The 911 GT3 R rennsport will come with an Agate Grey Metallic-painted bodyshell and carbon bodywork, providing a canvas primed for sponsorship decals and motorsport liveries. The race car is available in seven colors, plus three exclusive paintwork designs: Rennsport Reunion Design, Flacht Design, and Speed Icon Design.

So, there it is. The Porsche 911 GT3 R rennsport. This is normally the part where we say “stay tuned for an upcoming Road Test,” but we have a feeling that isn’t the case this time. But you can stay tuned for our “Over the Edge” guy Greg Carloss who is covering “Rennsport Reunion 7” in California, where the GT3 R rennsport debuted, in an upcoming episode.