Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 2006

The 997 GT3 Cup was introduced in January 2005 for the upcoming racing season. The 3.6-litre durable old-school unit got 294 kW and maximum 8200 rpm (last 996 Cup: 287 kW and rev limitter at 8000). The transmission was a 6-speed sequential dog-type gearbox with 5.5″ triple-disc sintered metal clutch. The fuel tank size was 90 litres. There were front and rear double coil springs and the power steering was electro-hydraulic like on the 996 Cup cars. 3-piece central locking aluminium rims were used, fronts 9×18, rears 11×18 (same width as on the 996 Cup car). The tyres were naturally from the best manufacturer, Michelin, fronts 24/64-18 and rears 27/68-18. The body had many carbon fibre parts: front bumper and spoiler edge, doors and rear bumper. Air jack system was incorporated into the car. For the first season, the car was only used for the international Supercup series. The Supercup specification cars had ceramic brake discs (380/350 mm) and car weight 1120 kg/2469 lb. Later Carrera Cup specification cars had steel rotors in the same size which made the car heavier (1140 kg/2513 lb).

Three days after the 997 GT3 Cup was shown in Bahrain, the Aerokit was introduced for the coupé-bodied 911 Carrera and Carrera S. The Aerokit consisted of a GT3 Cup-style front spoiler and a different rear spoiler (a year later to be used on the GT3 street version).

From the 2006 season the 997 GT3 Cup cars were also used for national Carrera Cup series in addition to the Supercup. Porsche built the record number of 195 units of the 911 GT3 Cup for the 2006 season.

In February 2008 Porsche Motorsport announced a new model, called the 911 GT3 Cup S and made for the championships which run in accordance with FIA GT3 regulations. The 3.6-litre boxer is similar to the power unit in the GT3 Cup. The power increase to 324 kW resulted from optimised engine electronics and a modified exhaust system. The clutch disc is a 5.5″ three-plate carbon-fibre unit.

The wider and higher rear wing provides more downforce at the rear axle. Several suspension components for the GT3 Cup S have been taken from the more powerful GT3 RSR. At the rear the diameter of the brake discs has grown by 5 mm to 355 mm (front discs still 380 mm). In addition to complete cars, Porsche Motorsport offered a kit to upgrade the 2007 GT3 Cup models to the GT3 Cup S specs.

For the 2008 season the GT3 Cup 3.6 got additional 15 kW (now 309 kW). The 2005-2007 GT3 Cup and the 2008 GT3 Cup have their visual difference in the rear bumper – the Cup car now has the same design as the street GT3.

Porsche’s fourth news at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show was the GT3 Cup 3.8 for the 2010 racing season. Compared to the 997 Cup 3.6, the 997 Cup 3.8 has the 1.7″/44 mm wider body of the GT3 RS. Wider wheel arches also at the front allow 9.5″ wide front wheels (previously 9″). The wheel width at the rear axle grew a full inch, from 11″ to 12″. Power is significantly up from 309 to 331 kW.

At the 2010 Birmingham Motor Show in January, Porsche Motorsport offered the more competitive 353 kW 911 GT3 R 4.0 for sale instead of the 324 kW 911 GT3 Cup S 3.6. The car was built to be raced in series based on the international FIA GT3 regulations. The e-gas with “throttle-blip” function helps change gears, sophisticated traction control helps to put the power down and race-ABS assists braking.