Motorsport technology for optimum driving dynamics

Exceptional driving dynamics is the domain of every Porsche, and none more so than the RS models. It forms the basis for motorsport success. With this in mind, the specialists in Weissach have developed a first-class motorsport chassis for the new 911 GT3 RS. Ball joints on all arms – known as uniball bearings – provide even greater precision than conventional elastokinematic bearings. A McPherson spring strut axle with helper springs and wheels suspended individually on the crossmembers and wishbones is used at the front. The rear axle is designed as a multi-link suspension with helper springs. The additional springs are used for pretensioning and fixing the position of the lightweight springs during rebound of the suspension. The vehicle height, camber and tracking, as well as the anti-roll bars, can be set individually in order to find the optimum setup for each race track.

Specially tuned active chassis systems

All active chassis systems in the 911 GT3 RS are specially tuned. The PASM active suspension system allows the driver to choose between two programs. Normal mode is designed for sporty driving on public roads and race tracks in wet conditions. The tuning of the “Sport” mode supports maximum lateral acceleration and the best possible traction on a dry race track. The active rear-axle steering ensures greater agility on tight bends, while optimising the car’s stability during fast sections.

In the new 911 GT3 RS, the interventions of PSM deliver extremely sensitive and precisely dosed control – which can be completely disengaged in two stages. The system is so sophisticated that even experienced drivers do not achieve slower lap times on the race track with PSM activated, compared to their times with the system deactivated.

Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV Plus) has also been specifically tailored for the new 911 GT3 RS, and features an electronically controlled, fully variable rear differential lock. Numerous driving parameters are taken into account for the active control of the differential lock, in order to ensure, at the limits of the vehicle's driving dynamics, more traction, an increase in lateral dynamics and significantly increased driving stability during load changes on bends and during lane changes. On the race track, the system mainly stabilises the rear, and in doing so enables the driver to push the vehicle close to its limits.

The electronically controlled dynamic engine mounts also make a significant contribution to the dynamics and handling of the 911 GT3 RS. They unite the benefits of hard and soft engine mountings. A hard engine mounting is particularly important for race track use, as it allows for more precise, predictable handling when the vehicle is being driven to its limits. On public roads, a soft engine mounting helps to reduce oscillations and vibrations, which makes the ride more comfortable.

Chassis options: Weissach package and lift system

The optional Weissach package further optimises the handling of the 911 GT3 RS. Among the features included in the package are front and rear anti-roll bars and coupling rods made from carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP), which reduce the unsprung weight. Porsche is currently the only manufacturer to offer this technology in a road-approved vehicle.

A hydraulic lift system for the front axle is available as an option; the system significantly reduces the risk of bottoming on kerbs, ramps or garage entrances. Once fitted with this system, the front end of the vehicle can be raised by around 30 millimetres, up to a speed of approximately 50 km/h.

Stable brake system with fixed callipers and composite discs

The standard brake system for the 911 GT3 RS, with fixed callipers and composite discs, is tried-and-tested in the field of motorsport. Porsche always uses monobloc aluminium callipers manufactured from a single piece, which offer enormous benefits for race track driving in particular. The high level of rigidity, which goes hand in hand with the design, ensures very good pressure point behaviour under extreme loads, while also providing high resistance to fading. The six-piston brake callipers at the front axle press the brake pads against the brake discs, with four-piston brake callipers doing the same at the rear. The composite brake discs have a diameter of 380 millimetres. Their two-part design with aluminium brake chambers reduces the weight and therefore the unsprung and rotary masses. They are perforated and internally ventilated, so they can easily dissipate any heat that builds up.

In addition to the purely mechanical components of the brake system, the electronics used also play an important role in the brake performance. The 911 GT3 RS uses a specially calibrated brake booster. The ABS control unit has been specifically adapted for use on the race track.

Optional: Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB)

The braking performance of the 911 GT3 RS can be increased even further with the optional PCCB. The perforated ceramic composite brake discs have a diameter of 410 millimetres at the front and 390 millimetres at the back. The six-piston fixed brake callipers on the front axle and four-piston fixed brake callipers on the rear axle, both of which are finished with yellow paint, ensure very high and, above all, consistent brake pressure during deceleration. High resistance to fading is guaranteed, even under maximum stress.

Specially developed sports tyres with two-fold tyre mixing

The new 911 GT3 RS is fitted with two-fold mixed tyres as standard; the rear tyres are not only wider but also larger in diameter than the front tyres. In terms of specific dimensions, the vehicle has 265/35 ZR 20 tyres on 9.5J x 20-inch wheels at the front, and 325/30 ZR 21 tyres on 12.5J x 21-inch wheels at the rear. The standard sports tyres developed specifically for the 911 GT3 RS give drivers with sporting ambitions two major advantages that mainly come to light on the race track: They guarantee not only significantly improved road-holding performance on dry roads, but also greater consistency on longer journeys. This is made possible with a tread featuring two different rubber compounds. While strongly linked elastomers with optimum hardness guarantee exceptional grip on the outside, especially on tight corners, harder elastomers on the inside of the tyre ensure optimised steering precision and road-holding performance on wet roads. The outer shoulder of the tyre is also strengthened with a particularly abrasion-resistant special rubber compound. The result is a tyre that offers consistently good grip, even during intensive use on the race track, and excellent durability for a sports tyre.

Optional: Road-approved track tyres

Porsche is offering a new road-approved track tyre as an option for the 911 GT3 RS. This special tyre is based on the design of a sports tyre, but uses a different rubber compound that is aimed primarily at pure race track usage. In comparison with the sports tyre, the road-approved track tyre offers even better performance characteristics on a dry race track. The tyre is expected to be available from Q3 2018 via the Porsche sales network.

Forged aluminium wheels as standard; magnesium wheels as an option

Porsche delivers the 911 GT3 RS as standard with forged aluminium wheels that are secured with a central locking mechanism featuring “RS” lettering. As an option, in conjunction with the Weissach package, the 911 GT3 RS can be fitted with magnesium forged wheels of the same dimension; these wheels reduce the weight of the vehicle – and therefore also the rotary masses that are particularly relevant in terms of driving dynamics – by a further 11.5 kilograms.

The Tyre Pressure Monitoring (TPM) system is included as standard and issues a warning in the event of gradual or sudden pressure loss; it also has a race track mode, which takes into account the lower air pressure of cold tyres at the start of the track session.