The Porsche 911 GT3 RS

To fully appreciate the Porsche 911 GT3 RS requires an adjustment in perspective and appreciation. It provides amazing cornering capability as well as creating plenty of noise.

As close to a full-fledged Le Mans race car as you can legally get on the road, this beauty communicates with its driver through perfectly calibrated controls.

Power

The GT3 RS is Porsche's most extreme 911 ever made. Designed to thrill racetrack enthusiasts, its sole objective is speed. That starts with its scintillating naturally aspirated 4.0-liter flat six engine that revs to 9,000rpm and generates 518hp in RS form; providing Porsche engineers the opportunity to tune it for optimal performance using motorsport-derived single throttle body technology and camshaft profiles with additional lift at higher rpm.

The PDK seven-speed transmission sends all that power directly to the rear wheels, but that is only half of its story. The RS features a drag reduction system from Formula 1, and allows drivers to adjust bump and rebound damping settings dynamically based on any conditions, giving you complete control of suppleness for every drive condition - creating an exhilarating road car experience like no other! Shifting gears effortlessly while experiencing explosive acceleration makes the RS one of the most enjoyable road cars you'll ever drive!

If parked next to a regular 911, the GT3 RS stands out with its wild aero elements and huge rear wing. That's no coincidence; Porsche claims that at top speed it generates 860kg of downforce which is comparable to what full-sized 992 GT3 Cup cars produce.

The Porsche 911 RS's protuberances don't just add drama; they also help it go faster than any prior 911 model. Zero to 62mph takes just 3.2 seconds and top speed is 184mph (14mph slower than its GT3-with-wing predecessor). While these numbers might seem minor on paper, my experience driving the RS was intense and urgent; probably thanks to its potency engine and razor-sharp PDK transmission pushing harder than any prior GT3 before it.

Performance

One thing that sets apart the Porsche 911 RS from other Porsches is its focus on performance. Its distinctive swan neck rear wing and lack of colour give away this racecar for the road; no secret about its unapologetic racecar status with seat shaped like a swan neck and big spoiler with variable aero configurations to maximize downforce.

Refreshingly, in an age where everyone seems obsessed with finding cars that can do everything, the RS remains dedicated to doing one thing - delivering blistering lap times. While its 518 horsepower may not seem much different from its predecessor's version, its new flat six engine can rev all the way to 9,000rpm; with six individual throttle bodies sucking air and producing an audible growl while its seven-speed PDK dual clutch transmission snapping off hyperquick shifts.

The steering wheel-mounted switches allow you to customize everything from the DRS operating range and behaviour, through how the electronic differential (front and rear) reacts, to how the stability control system reacts when understeer occurs. The RS is unrivalled when it comes to communicating with its driver and adapting its behavior according to what's being requested; something especially evident when its speedometer hits 150mph!

Sensitivity to driver inputs makes driving so rewarding, and while not always comfortable (the Cup 2 tyres have difficulty dealing with bumps and lumps), the RS still feels alive and engaging even at lower to medium speeds.

Add in the Weissach Package, and it becomes apparent this car is designed as a road racer; featuring a full roll cage, magnesium wheels, carbon fibre front bonnet, titanium anti-roll bars and bolted-on magnesium roof. Yet the interior still feels much like any regular 911, with GT shifter, chassis bracing and well-bolstered full bucket seats - the only real negative being storage; none at the front or much space behind seats when opting for Weissach pack.

Style

The GT3 RS was designed with uncompromised high-performance driving in mind. Its wide rear track enhances lateral stability and grip while its enlarged front wings help balance downforce between axles. Furthermore, its hydraulically actuated rear wing can be folded flat for reduced drag or snapped up for increased downforce with just the press of a button - similary, its front wings may also be opened or closed depending on racing conditions to optimise aero efficiency.

Redesigned front bumper and matching rear spoiler help reduce air resistance further. Inside the GT3 RS features a new track display which puts all relevant information front-and-center; at the press of a button you can reduce two digital displays surrounding an analogue tachometer to display only essential data such as speed, revs, oil pressure and shift points - perfect for race driving modes that focus on maximising engine rpm and performance.

Porsche has also added an intuitive new control concept for their PDK automatic transmission that takes its inspiration from motorsport. Utilizing four dials on the steering wheel, drivers can individually tailor various functions like changing adaptive dampers' rebound and compression settings depending on their individual racing situation.

A new exhaust system helps increase both power and torque across the entire power band, with carbon fibre trims on steering wheel cover and cup holder trim providing further weight-cutting benefits and adding exclusivity. Even the bolted titanium roll cage used in Clubsport package has been lightened. In addition, other minor details have also been optimized to save weight.

The Porsche 911 GT3 RS is unquestionably the most extreme iteration of this iconic sports car to date, offering active aero for the first time, 518 horses of naturally aspirated flat six power, and an increased rear track width compared to that of its predecessor the 997 GT3. Engineers in Stuttgart clearly wanted to take this iconic sports car to new levels; during track testing by American automotive journals it recorded 0-60 times of just 4.5 seconds and top speeds of 198 mph (325 km/h). Skidpad tests revealed it can pull 1.03 G!

Technology

The Porsche RS is their latest effort at building a road-legal, naturally aspirated racecar and it delivers big time. Producing more downforce at 285km/h than its predecessor and most production cars (if you exclude cars like Aston Martin Valkyrie). And they did it by introducing active aerodynamics for the first time on any 911 production car ever produced!

A large central radiator in the nose frees up space for two electronically adjustable flaps that can be operated by the driver via rotary controls on the steering wheel for optimal handling in different track conditions. They work in concert with a front diff that can also be adjusted using similar systems and create up to 40kg of downforce.

Similar to its rear wing, the rear wing can also be raised and lowered for optimal efficiency, helping adjust airflow through the car for maximum efficiency. Other efficiency-boosting features include a front splitter that divides air flow over and under the car while working in concert with side blades inspired by Le Mans-winning 911 GT1 to deflect air outwards; exposed carbon roof, bonnet, and wing mirrors help further decrease drag.

Even under extreme pressure, the GT3 RS remains planted on any road or racetrack thanks to its adjustable compression/rebound damping system - this can be set into one mode for track use as well as another which enables roll-centres on front axles to shift up or down for optimal cornering grip.

Drivers looking for more speed will appreciate the Weissach Package's addition of forged magnesium wheels that further optimize weight distribution by shifting more mass towards the rear. Furthermore, its braking system has been further optimized to offer increased fade resistance and faster response time.

With its immense power and agility, the 911 GT3 RS requires a mental reset from its driver. Though intimidating at first, its superb neutral balance and communicative steering makes driving it both engaging and intimidating. To maximize performance on a racetrack you must push both elements to their limits;