Before the GT3 R designation was introduced, Porsche produced the 996 GT3 R (1999–2001) as a replacement for the 993 RSR. Tested extensively at Weissach and Paul Ricard, it used carbon fibre body panels, plexiglass rear and side windows, a welded steel roll cage, air-jack system, and a 3.6-litre engine (Type M96/77) producing 302 kW (411 PS; 405 hp) at 8,200 rpm with a 43.1 mm air restrictor, fitted with a Bosch Motronic 3.1 engine management system and a 6-speed sequential gearbox. No ABS was fitted, as it was not permitted in the Le Mans GT class. The car achieved class wins at the 1999 and 2000 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The 996 GT3 RS racing variant (2001) won the GTO Class in the 2001 British GT Championship, driven by Parr Motorsport's Kelvin Burt and Marino Franchitti with 109 points.
The 996 GT3 RSR (2004) was the ultimate 996-generation racing development, using a 331 kW (450 PS; 444 hp) 3.8-litre flat-six and a 6-speed sequential gearbox with carbon fibre body panels. Only 37 cars were built. It earned three victories in the American Le Mans Series GT2 class and class wins at the 2004 and 2005 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The 997 GT3 RSR debuted at the 2006 Spa 24 Hours and was built to comply with Automobile Club de l'Ouest, FIA-GT, IMSA, and VLN regulations. It used a 3.8-litre flat-six with two 30.3 mm air restrictors, rated at 335 kW (455 PS; 449 hp) at 8,500 rpm with a 9,000 rpm redline. The bodyshell with welded safety cage was ten percent stiffer than the 996 RSR, and wheel arches widened the body by 50 mm per side. Front and rear lids, mudguards, rear section, doors, and wing were carbon fibre. The RSR used ZF-Sachs through-rod shock absorbers for reduced friction and improved response. For 2007, front air louvers were added; for 2011 front splitters were added and engine output raised to 338 kW (460 PS; 453 hp).
The 997 GT3 RSR scored first-place finishes at the 2011 and 2013 Petit Le Mans. Sabine Schmitz set a Nürburgring Nordschleife lap record for non-turbocharged cars at 7:07 in the RSR.
The 997 GT3 R Hybrid debuted at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. The hybrid system was developed by the Williams F1 Team based on their 2009 flywheel KERS, storing kinetic energy in a flywheel rather than batteries. Two electric motors totalling at least 163 kW (222 PS; 219 hp) drove the front wheels alongside the 373 kW (507 PS; 500 hp) 4.0-litre flat-six at the rear. The car entered the 2010 24 Hours Nürburgring and made its racing debut earlier at the VLN 4-hour ADAC Westfalenfahrt on 27 March 2010. On 28 May 2011 it won its first VLN race. At the 2011 24 Hours of Nürburgring, weight/restrictor penalties and technical difficulties held it to 28th. At the 2011 American Le Mans Series event at Monterey, it ran unclassified but finished ahead of all GT cars and set the fastest GT lap.
Built from the ground up for FIA GT3 regulations, the 997 GT3 R used a 4.0-litre, 368 kW (500 PS; 493 hp) boxer engine with a 6-speed sequential gearbox, throttle-blip function, ABS, and traction control. Base MSRP was €279,000 excluding taxes. For 2013 the aerodynamics were significantly revised and the track, wheelbase, and tyre width were each increased; an Evo conversion kit was available to existing customers for €45,500 excluding taxes.
Announced in May 2015 and homologated on the 991 GT3 RS, the 991 GT3 R used the production 4.0-litre flat-six rated at around 373 kW (507 PS; 500 hp) through a 6-speed paddle-shift sequential gearbox. A lengthened wheelbase (+83 mm) and double-bubble roof distinguished it visually. The central radiator concept from the 911 RSR was adopted, eliminating side radiators to improve centre of gravity, protect the radiator from collision damage, and improve hot-air venting. Carbon fibre composite (CFRP) was used for the roof, front cover and fairing, wheel arches, doors, and tail sections; all windows including the windscreen were polycarbonate. The two-metre rear wing provided aerodynamic balance; front fairing wheel-arch air vents increased front axle downforce. Weight was 1,220 kg. Front brakes: six-piston aluminium monobloc calipers on 380 mm discs; rear: four-piston items on 372 mm discs.
The 991 RSR (2013–2017) was introduced for the LM GTE category, retaining the Mezger engine of the 997 RSR for 2013. Manthey Racing ran the cars in the FIA World Endurance Championship, finishing 1–2 in the GT class at the 2013 24 Hours of Le Mans. For 2014, CORE Autosport ran two RSRs in the United SportsCar Championship under the Porsche North America banner, while AKB GT Raceline announced a second pair and Team Falken Tire committed from Sebring onwards.
The 991 RSR (2017–2019) debuted at the 2017 24 Hours of Daytona with a rear mid-engined layout, 4.0-litre flat-six rated at 375 kW (510 PS; 503 hp), new direct fuel injection, swan-neck rear wing, larger diffuser, quick-change body panels, double-wishbone suspension with quick-change shim system, and Bertrandt-developed LED lights first used on the 919 Hybrid. At the 2018 24 Hours of Le Mans, Manthey Racing's #92 and #91 finished 1–2 in LM GTE Pro, both carrying anniversary liveries: #92 with the "Pink Pig" livery homaging the 917/20, #91 with a Rothmans-inspired livery from the 956 and 962. Dempsey-Proton Racing's #77 won LM GTE Am. At the 2019 24 Hours of Le Mans, Manthey's #91 finished second in LM GTE Pro, CORE's #93 third; Team Project 1's #56 won LM GTE Am.
The 991 RSR (2019–2023), introduced at the 2019 Goodwood Festival of Speed, was 95% new versus its predecessor, using a larger 4,194 cc (4.2 L) engine, a more rigid sequential constant-mesh gearbox, and repositioned dual exhaust pipes exiting in front of the rear wheels to allow an optimised diffuser.
Introduced in May 2018 and based on the 991.2 GT3 RS, this iteration used a 4.0-litre flat-six developing approximately 405 kW (551 PS; 543 hp). Key additions over the prior 991 GT3 R included a larger diffuser, double wishbone front suspension adopted from the RSR, a shim system for setup changes without realignment, larger front tyres, an electro-hydraulically actuated clutch eliminating the clutch pedal, a left/right-configurable fuel cell, rear-view camera and collision avoidance system, movable pedal box, energy-absorbing door elements, and air conditioning. Priced at €459,000 excluding taxes.
Unveiled in summer 2022, the 992 GT3 R uses a 4,194 cc engine producing up to 421 kW (565 bhp). It made its global racing debut at the 2023 24 Hours of Daytona, where ABS and traction control problems were subsequently addressed with new updates. In August 2025 Porsche announced an updated version featuring new front fender louvers, a revised rear wing Gurney flap, modified rear axle kinematics, improved power steering cooling, new ceramic wheel bearings, and new driveshaft cooling ducts. This updated car made its competitive debut at the 2025 12 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, finishing second overall.
A track-only variant, the 992 GT3 R Rennsport, debuted at the 2023 Rennsport reunion to mark Porsche's 75th anniversary. It is based on the 992 GT3 R as an effectively unrestricted GT3 car; only 77 were produced.
The 911 GT3 family has won the 24 Hours Nürburgring in 2000, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2018, and 2021 (all by Manthey Racing), the Spa 24 Hours in 2003, 2010, 2019, and 2020, the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2003, the Petit Le Mans in 2015, the Bathurst 12 Hour in 2019 and 2024, and the Dubai 24 Hour in 2021.
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