DRIVE DAYS 101

How not to be ‘ that guy’ on a manufacturer drive day

THE EAGERLY anticipated 992 911 GT3 RS will come with the largest engine ever fitted to a 911 and produce around 400kw.

Speaking to Wheels at the launch of the 992 Carrera S – the car that will provide the basic architecture for the next track-focused GT3 and RS – soon-to-retire 911 product line chief August Achleitner confirmed one of the most desirable Porsches ever created would not mess with a successful formula: rear-wheel drive, lightweight body and a naturally aspirated engine revving to 9000rpm, or beyond.

Achleitner said the ‘regular’ GT3 will stick with an evolution of the 3996cc engine in the current car – one developed to incorporate a gasoline particulate filter for European markets – that is expected to yield around 385kw, a minor increase on the 383kw of today’s RS.

But he said the new 992 RS will utilise a slightly larger version of that same legendary naturally aspirated six-cylinder.

“It could get a small increase,” he said. He stressed any capacity increases would be minor and hinted Porsche was unlikely to change the 4.0-litre capacity claim that is rounded to the nearest 0.1 litre. Porsche has previously said the naturally aspirated engine is maxed out at 4.0 litres, but engineers have also spoken of plans to increase the rev limit to a towering 9500rpm.

One option is the 404kw 4000cc engine from the GT3 R racer, revealed in 2019. Achleitner confirmed the RS engine development will be closely linked to that of the race car.

Rather than shift to the new eightspeed dual-clutch developed for the 992 911, the GT3 and RS will stick to the final iteration of the seven-speed PDK (a manual will again be offered for the GT3).

Blame it on weight control: the new eight-cog transmission is about 20kg heavier, something engineers are not prepared to cop with the race-focused GT models. Besides, the eight-speed’s main advantage is closing the gap between the economy-focused top gear and the sixth ratio that delivers a 911’s top speed; hardly a concern for those already prepared to make the compromise with the GT3.

Wheels and tyres won’t change markedly for the GT3, either. While regular 911s have increased the diameter of their wheels with staggered sizes front and rear, the GT3 will not go larger than the max size fitted to the Carrera models; so that’ll mean 21-inch rears, the maximum engineered for the 992-generation cars.

But with sticky, track-focused semislick rubber there will be significantly more grip than regular 911s, part of the magic used to create one of the most dynamically exciting and satisfying cars on the planet.

The GT3 will continue to push the