Road-Legal Race-Ready Porsche 911 GT3 RS Launched In Malaysia

Porsche Malaysia just launched the race-ready 911 GT3 RS at the Sepang International Circuit ahead of the race weekend for the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia 2023, and on the 60th year of the iconic 911 model.

“The new 911 GT3 RS resembles a race car more closely than ever before, offering near Cup car-like performance for our growing base of track enthusiast customers. Having proven itself both on the racetrack and the road, we are delighted to introduce this highly anticipated model during the second Porsche Carrera Cup Asia race weekend in Malaysia, with motorsport passion in the air,” said Christopher Hunter, Chief Executive Officer of Sime Darby Auto Performance. Unveiling the new 911 GT3 RS alongside him was Alexandre Gibot, Managing Director of Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific, and Nazim Azman, race driver for the Sime Darby Racing Team.

“While we enjoy the spectacle of 911 GT3 Cup cars unleashing their performance around Sepang this weekend, the 911 GT3 RS is a perfect example of how this on-track performance is distilled into our legendary RS models. With more drivers honing their skills behind the wheel of the new 911 GT3 RS, we look forward to elevating motorsport fascination in Malaysia, and perhaps even developing a stronger pipeline of Malaysian drivers moving up the motorsport pyramid,” added Alexandre Gibot, Managing Director of Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific.

The Porsche 911 GT3 RS is a road-legal high-performance sports car designed with maximum performance as a priority. Using a 4.0L high-revving naturally aspirated engine which has been further optimised compared with the 911 GT3, the RS version gets an increase in power to 386 kW (525 PS), obtained primarily via new camshafts with modified cam profiles. The single-throttle intake system and the rigid valve drive are derived from motorsport. The engine is paired with a 7-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) with shorter overall gear ratios than the ‘regular’ GT3. The official 0 – 100 km/h sprint time stands at 3.2 seconds and the car tops out at 296 km/h.

The car’s performance is enhanced by the application of motorsport technology. For instance, the cooling system and aerodynamics closely resemble that of its motorsport sibling – 911 GT3 R. The cooling system uses a central radiator (taking up the front luggage compartment) rather than the 3-radiator layout of the ‘regular’ 911 GT3. Doing so made it possible to use the space freed up on the sides to integrate active aerodynamic elements.

Continuously adjustable wing elements in the front and on the 2-part rear wing, in combination with a number of other aerodynamic measures, provide about 409 kg of total downforce at 200 km/h. This means that the new 911 GT3 RS generates twice as much downforce as its 991.2-generation predecessor and 3 times as much as a current 911 GT3. At 285 km/h, total downforce is 860 kg.

And for the first time, a drag reduction system (DRS) is fitted in a production Porsche. To achieve low drag and higher speeds on straight sections of the track, the DRS allows the rear wing to flatten out at the push of a button on the steering wheel. The airbrake function is also activated during braking at high speeds i.e. the wing elements at the front and rear are set to maximum, creating an aerodynamic deceleration effect that significantly supports the brakes.

The look of the 911 GT3 RS is also characterised by a large number of functional aerodynamic elements. The most prominent feature of this GT sports car is the rear wing with swan-neck supports, which is significantly larger in all dimensions. The rear wing consists of a fixed main wing and an upper element which is hydraulically adjustable. For the first time on a Porsche production vehicle, the upper edge of the rear wing is higher than the car’s roof. In addition, the front end of the 911 GT3 RS features a front splitter that divides the air flowing over and underneath, with sideblades that deflect outwards for increased lateral stability.

Up front, there are louvred strakes above the front wings similar to the iconic Le Mans-winning 911 GT1 to reduce air turbulence in the wheel arches. Hot air from the centrally positioned radiator flows out via large nostrils on the bonnet and is guided by fins on the roof that keep the hot air flowing along the sides of the car. This ensures that only cooler air rushes over the roof and down the back into the rear engine intakes to optimise cooling. Further, the rear wheel arch also features an intake and a sideblade for optimised airflow. The rear diffuser comes from the 911 GT3, and has been slightly adapted.

For enhanced driving performance, even the suspension components are optimised. Components such as the double-wishbone front axle are designed with teardrop-shaped profiles to increase downforce on the front axle by around 40 kg at top speed. And because of the widened front track (29 mm wider than the 911 GT3), the double-wishbone front axle links on the 911 GT3 RS are also correspondingly longer.

With extensive use of CFRP (carbon fibre reinforced plastics), the 911 GT3 RS weighs in at only 1,450 kg (kerb weight according to DIN) despite many larger components. Some CFRP parts include the doors, front wings, roof and front lid. Lightweight CFRP is also used in the interior, such as in the standard full bucket seats. For enhanced rigidity and safety, the lightweight door features a clip that slots into a slit in the door frame when closed.

The 911 GT3 RS offers 3 driving modes: Normal, Sport and Track (sorry, there’s no Eco mode). In Track mode, more detailed settings can be individually adjusted in several stages, for example the rebound and compression damping of the front and rear axles, the amount of lock on the rear differential and also the Drag Reduction System (DRS). These elements can be adjusted from the 4 rotary dials located on the steering wheel, displayed dynamically via specific displays in the instrument cluster.

Stopping power comes courtesy of aluminium monobloc fixed-calliper brakes with 6 pistons each and 408 mm brake discs (front axle), and 4-piston fixed-calliper and 380 mm brake discs (rear axle). As an option, you can also pick a set of Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB) with 410 mm discs on the front and 390 mm discs at the rear. The GT3 RS comes standard with forged light-alloy centre-lock wheels with road-legal sports tyres measuring 275/35 R20 (front) and 335/30 R21 (rear).

Clubsport And Weissach Packages

The GT sports car is finished in typical RS style i.e. black leather, Racetex and carbon-weave finish for a purist, sporting ambience. But there are those who want more, and the 911 GT3 RS is available with the Clubsport package at no extra cost. This includes a steel rollover bar, a hand-held fire extinguisher and 6-point seat belt for the driver.

Furthermore, the Weissach package, which is available at extra cost, adds considerably more. The front lid, roof, parts of the rear wing and the upper shell of the exterior mirrors feature a carbon-weave finish. The front and rear anti-roll bars, the rear coupling rods and the shear panel on the rear axle are made of CFRP and contribute to a further enhancement of the driving dynamics. The rollover bar, constructed for the first time from CFRP, saves around six kilograms compared with the steel version.

Another highlight of the Weissach package is the PDK shift paddles with motorsport-derived magnet technology. This makes gear changes even more dynamic thanks to a more precise pressure point and a clearly perceptible click. Optionally available with the Weissach package are magnesium forged wheels, which save another eight kilograms.

The new Porsche 911 GT3 RS is priced from RM2,630,000.

For more information on the new 911 GT3 RS, kindly contact the nearest Porsche Centre to book your interest, or visit https://bit.ly/911GT3RS-launch.

Exclusive Porsche Design Chronograph

Inspired by the motorsport mindset – where maximum precision is paramount – Porsche’s own watchmaking operation in Solothurn, Switzerland, has developed the 911 GT3 RS chronograph. This mechanical watch is reserved for owners of the car. It is based on a glass-bead blasted case, made from either natural or black titanium, and with a screw-down crown.

Inside the watch is the mechanical Porsche Design chronograph calibre WERK 01.200, which has been COSC-certified for its high accuracy. Its flyback function allows the wearer to start, stop and reset the second hand with a single action. The chronograph pushers, which feature ‘Start/Stop’ and ‘Next Lap’ laser engravings, reveal that this chronograph is not just about telling the time. In addition to innovations, such as the pulsometer scale on the bezel, many design features and materials from the GT3 RS are also found.