The 2013 Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup will be the first race series in the world to use a car based on the new Type 991 Porsche 911, the seventh generation of the iconic sportscar not yet in showrooms.
The new car represents several developments over the current generation of the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car used in the Mobil 1 Supercup, as well as in Porsche’s nation Carrera Cup championships.
Porsche’s familiar flat six engine remains, though the 991’s 3.8 litre unit providing 460hp – 10 more than the outgoing Supercup car. Wider tyres – two centimetres more on the front tyres, one on the already wider rear tyres – should also increase speeds around the Grand Prix tracks the Supercup visits during its season.
For the first time the GT3 Cup car is equipped with a six-speed paddle shift gearbox – moving away from the sequential boxes of previous Porsches. Other developments improve driver safety with a new safety cage and individually adjustable seat intended to protect the driver in the event of an accident, while a rescue hatch in the ease will enable the speedy giving of any primary medical attention to the driver inside.
“The new 911 GT3 Cup is much easier to drive at the limit,” said Timo Bernhard, who helped with the development of the new car. “The car is excellently balanced. The new axle geometry is enormously positive for the handling. In addition, the new Cup 911 is great fun to drive.”
Though the new car will debut in the MobIl 1 Supercup next year all the national Carrera and Challenge Cup series will continue to use the current generation of car, the first of them converting to the Type 991 based design in 2014.
