Despite lacking the flashy aesthetics of supercars like Ferrari and Lamborghini, Porsche 911 GT3 RS has always been one of the most loved sports car since it’s inception. It has never been a car that was made to stand out among competition due to its crazy design or insane spec sheet – instead it has always been the car to provide some of the purest, adrenaline fueled experiences making you feel like you are driving a true racing car instead of a road legal one. For this reason it’s very exciting to see the new Porsche 911 GT3 RS (992) revealed and it doesn’t seem to be any less impressive as it’s predecessors.
Porsche 911 GT3 RS (992)
Let’s start with the least important stuff but the one that nerds enjoy the most – spec sheet. Just like the old model the new GT3 RS has naturally aspirated 4.0 liter flat-6 engine which now produces 525 metric horsepower which is just a mere 5 metric horsepower increase over the old model. Spec sheet nerds will be disappointed but GT3 RS was never the car about basic numbers so let’s get into why this car is actually exciting.
So what’s the thing that stands out the most on the new GT3 RS? Well, aero, particularly the massive rear wing – we have never seen something so aggressive on a GT3 RS. With suspension technologies being so advanced nowadays aerodynamics, or to be more specific – downforce, is probably the most effective way in increasing grip at high speeds.
To tell the whole story about new GT3 RS aerodynamics you would probably need a 3-hour powerpoint presentation but there are various changes to make this car stick to the road like glue. When it comes to numbers the new GT3 RS produces 409 kilograms of downforce at 200 km/h which is about twice as much as the old model. At 285 km/h – 860 kilograms. Significant improvement.
Porsche 911 GT3 RS (992) also has flaps/wings that can change their position to change drag and downforce depending on whether you are accelerating, breaking or cornering for best possible performance in every situation.
Another important change on this generation is control-arm front suspension which is something previous generation GT3 and GT3 RS didn’t have (both 992 GT3 and 992 GT3 RS now have control-arm front suspension).
Porsche says the new 911 GT3 RS (992) does 0 to 100 km/h in 3.2 seconds and 0 to 60 mph in 3 seconds flat. Knowing Porsche’s history of claims don’t be too surprised if it turns out to be even faster. With that being said – GT3 RS is not the car that’s made to perform outrageous acceleration numbers (even though it’s still super fast in this regard), it’s a car that’s made to give you the best possible driving experience on track and road.
History of Porsche 911 GT3 RS
Porsche 911 GT3 (996)
The story with GT3 RS doesn’t really start with GT3 RS but instead with a regular GT3. Back in 1999 Porsche needed to make homologation model for their FIA GT3 racing car and that car was Porsche 911 GT3 (996).
The original GT3 had 3.6 liter 6-cylinder boxer engine that developed 360 metric horsepower and 370 Nm of Torque allowing it to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds and from 0 to 200 km/h in 16.1 – which is still pretty quick even by today’s standards.
Porsche didn’t expect a lot of demand for the GT3, they built it only because they had to, but turns out customers loved a race bred 911 and it turned out to be a massive success. This was the beginning of one of the most desired road legal sports car models ever.
Porsche 911 GT3 RS (996)
4 years later, in 2003, Porsche introduced the first GT3 RS model – a more hardcore version of the GT3. It now produced 381 metric horsepower allowing it to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds and 0 to 200 km/h in 13.5 seconds.
996 GT3 RS was also lighter thanks to polycarbonate rear window, carbon fiber hood and rear wing. The brakes were also upgraded to more heat resistant ones as well GT3 RS foresaw some suspension upgrades for improved handling. The rear wing delivered 35 kilograms of downforce at 201 km/h.
With all these upgrades Porsche 911 GT3 RS (996) could maintain over 1.0G on skidmark and achieve speeds over 300 km/h.
Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997)
In 2006 Porsche introduced second generation GT3 RS also known as 997 (or 997.1). It now had wider body than regular 911 models and GT3 but of course received upgrades and improvements all around the car. It was another race-bred homologation model.
Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997) produced 415 metric horsepower and 405 Nm (229 lb-ft) of torque. It could accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.2 seconds and from 0 to 200 km/h in 13.2.
Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997.2)
In 2009 Porsche introduced facelifted version of 997 GT3 RS also known was Porsche 911 GT3 RS 997.2.
It received 30 horsepower increase and some other upgrades allowing it to set Nürburgring Nordschleife laptime that was 9 seconds faster than pre-facelift model.
Ferrari 458 Italia vs Porsche 911 GT3 RS by Chris Harris (Evo Magazine)
Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997.2) by Dan Prosser (PistonHeads)
Porsche 997.2 GT3 RS by Mr JWW (James William Walker)
Porsche 911 GT3 RS driven by autocar.co.uk
Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 (997.2)
In 2010 Porsche introduced perhaps the most special GT3 RS of all time, the last one with manual gearbox – Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 (997.2).
GT3 RS 4.0 received a significant power increase of 50 horsepower for a total power output of 500 metric horsepower. It was also approximately 20 kilograms lighter than the regular 997.2 GT3 RS introduced just a year ago.
Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 (997.2) can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.6 seconds and 0 to 200 km/h in 11.5. It has a top speed of 311 km/h (193 mph) and it lapped Nürburgring Nordschleife 5 seconds faster than GT3 RS 997.2.
Porsche GT3 RS 4.0 v BMW M3 GTS v Mercedes C63 AMG Black Series by Chris Harris
Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 (2011) by Jethro Bovingdon
GT3 RS 4.0: Last Drive Before Hibernation – /CHRIS HARRIS ON CARS
Porsche 911 GT3 RS (991)
In 2015 Porsche introduced the new generation GT3 RS known as Porsche 911 GT3 RS 991 (or 991.1). It has same horsepower output as the GT3 RS 4.0 997.2 however it produced 2 Nm of torque less and was about 60 kilograms heavier.
Despite having worse spec sheet than it’s predecessor the new GT3 RS actually proved to be significantly faster due to seven-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission, more aggressive aerodynamic setup, improved suspension, brakes and having tires that are 20mm wider on both, front and rear.
Porsche 911 GT3 RS (991) lapped Nürburgring Nordschleife in 7 minutes and 20 seconds – 7 seconds faster than Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 (997.2).
Despite worse power-to-weight ratio the new GT3 RS proved to have faster acceleration too completing 0 to 100 km/h in 3.3 seconds and 0 to 200 km/h in 10.8 seconds – mostly due to faster shifting transmission and additional gear allowing shorter gears.
Porsche 911 GT3 RS (991) Chris Harris Review
Porsche 911 GT3 RS (991) Jeremy Clarkson Review
Porsche 911 GT3 RS (991.2)
Porsche 911 GT3 RS (991.2) is the facelift version of 991.1 GT3 RS. It produces 20 more horsepower but weighs the same as the previous model. Some of the new improvements included NACA ducts for brake cooling, increased downforce, ball joints on all suspension links and more.
