Porsche lives and breathes motorsport. From the 356 to the present day, the Zuffenhausen-based automaker perfected its racing cars into race-winning machinery. Porsche took a similar approach with the 911, the rear-engined sports car that indirectly replaced the 356.
Porsche's motorsport expertise was applied to many variants of the Neunelfer, of which the GT RS line stands out. Back in 2019, the previous-gen GT3 RS completed the Road America permanent road course in a staggering 2 minutes and 18 seconds. The GT2 RS needed 2 minutes and 15 seconds in similar conditions, with racing driver David Donohue behind the wheel.
Fast forward to 2023, and Porsche came back to Road America with the 992-generation 911 GT3 RS for yet another hot lap. The most track-focused GT RS production car yet clocked 2:13.82 in the hands of Dimitri Dimakos with OEM-spec Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires. However, the car did feature a Manthey Racing alignment installed by Porsche Exchange.
The alignment in question changed the coupe's ride height, camber, and toe for better lap times. Priced at $241,300 before destination charge and options, the lap record-breaking 911 GT3 RS actually costs in the ballpark of $290,000 due to go-faster upgrades.
For starters, the $33,520 Weissach package drops 33 pounds (73 kilograms) due to a flurry of lightweight bits and pieces, including a set of magnesium wheels. The carbon-ceramic brakes add $9,210 to the tally.
Blurring the line between road-going bruiser and racing car, the 992-generation 911 GT3 RS isn't for the faint of heart. Capable of producing 860 kilograms (1,896 pounds) of downforce at 285 kilometers per hour (177 miles per hour), this fellow is rocking continuously adjustable wing elements. DRS also needs to be mentioned for reducing drag on the straights.
Carbon fiber is extensively used to keep things light, including for the front wings, front and rear lids, the doors, and roof. Porsche further increased the front and rear tracks from 1,601 and 1,553 millimeters to 1,630 and 1,582 millimeters. The wider track up front also required Porsche to fit longer suspension links.
There's even rear-axle steering for better turn-in. Owners can further adjust the rebound and compression damping separately and – of course – in several stages because no two circuits are the same. The beating heart of the GT3 RS is a motorsport-derived boxer with 4.0 liters to its name, a high-revving engine that won't curtail your fun until 9,000 revolutions per minute.
The pokiest GT3 RS entitled to wear a license plate cranks out 518 horsepower and 342 pound-feet (465 Nm) of torque at full chatter. Zero to 100 kilometers per hour (62 miles per hour) takes 3.2 seconds, and the PDK transmission's final gear enables a top speed of 296 kilometers per hour (184 miles per hour).
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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