Porsche recently unveiled two cars that are a cornerstone of its racing efforts: The new 992.2-generation 911 Cup and revised GT3 R. The former is part of the brand’s one-make series that runs in North America, Germany, and Asia, whereas the latter sees duty in global FIA GT3-class competition. In the USA, this most prominently takes the form of the IMSA Weathertech SportsCar Championship and SRO GT World Challenge America.
Both race cars largely mimic their predecessors, yet, with some key changes to suspension and aerodynamics.
Over 5,000 Cup Cars Built Since 1990
Built alongside road-going 911s at Porsche’s Zuffenhausen, Germany facility, the current 992.1-generation 911 Cup has been in service since 2020 and totals 1,130 units. But now, with the 992.2 revision that debuted earlier this year, the new Cup will now be upgraded to reflect changes to its exterior.
Additionally, some race-ready function is built into its bodywork. The front spoiler lip—acting as a key source of downforce—is now made up of three separate parts, which means easier and less-costly replacement after on-track contact. Similarly, the Cup loses the road-going version’s daytime running lights, as, in the event of a collision, there’s less threat to the Cup’s radiator system. Plus, one less component to replace means less money spent by teams during repair. Additionally, a less-expensive carbon fiber fleece now comprises several rear body parts, which should be easier on teams’ finances, too.
The front fenders now feature louver vents and revised underbody aerodynamic engineering to improve overall precision on track, especially at high speed. Then, the rear spoiler has been revised for easier adjustment.
In terms of power output, the naturally aspirated, 4.0-liter flat-six beneath every Cup car now produces 512 horsepower. Reigning it in is a revised braking package, with wider and larger brake discs up front with optimized ducting to improve cooling.
Suffice to say, this will be the most capable, confident, and lively Cup car generation ever built since the series debuted 35 years ago.
GT3 Brawler
The current Porsche 911 GT3 R debuted in 2023 and has been no stranger to podiums around the globe. Last year, AO Racing’s iconic Rexy GTD Pro entry claimed the season championship, and GT3 Rs claimed six wins in eight events in Germany’s own Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS). Now, a new revised R is set to debut in grids for the 2026 season.
While upgrades are minimal, they’ll ensure competitiveness up against other GT3-class contenders from Aston Martin, Mercedes-AMG, BMW, and more, for years to come. They’re largely focused on front-end aero and suspension by way of revised fender louvers and re-engineering kinematics in its double-wishbone suspension. These louvers “help to counteract front-end compression during deceleration, thereby maintaining aerodynamic balance. This reduces the tendency of the car to tilt forward during braking, also known as pitch sensitivity. As a result, the new 911 GT3 R offers more precise and predictable braking behavior, improving overall control,” Porsche Motorsport states in its official press release.
Improved durability and reliability has been the focus of the new GT3 R, too. The electrohydraulic power steering system features upgraded cooling, and new ceramic wheel bearings are fitted to improve overall robustness dealing with sustained duty on circuits around the globe.
Several add-ons are now standard equipment, too, making it easier for teams to adhere to different series’ rulebooks. Finally, the GT3 R’s mighty 4.2-liter flat-six engine produces as much as 557 horsepower, though, adjusting this figure based on series’ balance-of-performance rules will be easy to achieve.
As the 992-generation has been out for some time, Porsche states that it will offer upgrade packages to bring pre-2026 911 GT3 Rs up to this current specification.