There are performance cars and then there is the Porsche 911. Long considered to be the most complete sports car, it has always championed the cause of minimalism and purpose-driven, radical design. Dial that up by a factor of 10 and you get the Porsche 911 GT3 RS. Using a mix of material alchemy and aerodynamic wizardry Porsche has managed to craft the ultimate track weapon. And it’s finally here in India, in all its infinitely configurable glory (via Porsche’s Exclusive Manufaktur customisation options).
The Engine
The Porsche 911 GT3 RS is powerful, but not outrightly so. Instead of relying exclusively on power, it uses aerodynamic design to full effect. Still, it’s no slouch in the power department. It gets a 4.0-litre, naturally-aspirated flat-six engine revving to 9000 rpm and producing 518bhp of power. At a time when electric or turbocharged power is so easily accessible, Porsche has stuck to its roots and kept the driving experience as pure and visceral as possible without taking the aid of superfluous power. As a result, you only get 5 extra bhp compared to the outgoing GT3 RS. What’s also been optimised is the 7-speed PDK automatic gearbox which helps the car reach 0-100 kph in 3.2 seconds.
Lots of Downforce
Apart from outright speed, the one thing setting the GT3 RS apart from its more pedestrian sibling is downforce. The GT3 RS has lots of it. It’s got a whole host of wings, vents and strategically placed cuts that create downforce of a whopping 860 kg at top speed. The hydraulic, DRS-style swan neck rear wing alone is a work of art. Its span is now wider by 40% and it’s adjustable by 34 degrees. It also manages to change position in 0.35 seconds so it’s a very reactive and adaptive piece of equipment.
Aerodynamics
Even the frunk has been redesigned to accommodate one large, forward-leaning radiator to create more effective airflow. The slats and vents around the wheels are designed to extract air from the wheel arches, reducing lift and planting the 911 GT3 RS on the tarmac like never before. There are wings on the roof as well, designed to deflect hot air sideways. This is a naturally aspirated performance at its most efficient.
Lightweight materials
Everything from the fender to the bonnet, the doors, bucket seats, and the rear spoiler has been forged in carbon fibre reinforced plastic. It even gets a lightweight stainless steel sports exhaust system to further help it shed weight. Even the door handles are straps that you need to tug at in order to open the doors. All this results in a car that weighs only 1450 kg, which is impressive considering the extent of driver aids including rear-wheel steering.
Attention to detail
It’s the little things that make the 911 Gt3 RS such a marvel of engineering. For instance, the hot air generated from the front lid radiator is channelled sideways and not upwards, in order to keep it from heating up the engine bay. As a result, putting down the windows on a cold morning will still result in you facing a draft of hot air. Then there’s the wing-profiled wishbone suspension arms which further contribute to 40 kg of downforce at top speed.
