Porsche 911 GT3 RS: A Nürburgring star for the road
It’s in Porsche’s DNA to gun for lap records every time a new 911 model is revealed for the public to see.
The latest Porsche model to do that is the new 911 GT3 RS which lapped the iconic 20.8 km-long Nordschleife of the Nürburgring in 6:49.328 seconds even though the weather wasn’t favourable. By comparison, that’s 10.6 seconds quicker than the current generation 911 GT3, yet slower than the 6:43 seconds time set by the old GT2 RS.
At the helm was Porsche’s brand ambassador Jörg Bergmeister who has been part and parcel of the development of the 911 series of cars. As a reminder, the 911 GT3 RS wields a free-breathing 4.0-litre flat-six engine that revs all the way to the 9,000 r/min redline mark. It spurts out 386 kW and 465 Nm of torque. The 911 GT3 RS blistered around the Nurburgring while shifting through a standard 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.
With a total downforce of 860 kg at 285 km/h, the 911 GT3 RS was also kitted with the Weissach package as well as the optionally available Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R tyres wrapped in 275/35 R 20 at the front and 335/30 R21 at the rear.
“We lost a little downforce due to the strong, sometimes gusting wind, but I’m still very happy with the lap,” says Bergmeister.
In August this year, Porsche took to the ‘Ring’ with its production Taycan Turbo S, which blistered silently around the track from start to finish in 7:33 seconds, and in the process setting a new EV lap record.
