While the Bahrain International Circuit is hosting the final round of the 2013 FIA World Endurance Championship next weekend, it will also play host to the first race for the further-developed Porsche 911 RSR.
Porsche AG Team Manthey will field the new GT contender, featuring modifications that will be employed for the 2014 season. Based on the seventh generation of the iconic 911, the car’s looks are dominated by the flared fenders and distinctive air intakes at the front, honouring the 50th anniversary of the 911.
“An exciting WEC season draws to a close in Bahrain,” said Porsche Head of Motorsport, Hartmut Kristen. “It was the first for the new 911 RSR which immediately followed on from Porsche’s great long distance successes with a terrific double victory in the GTE-Pro class at the Le Mans 24 Hours. In Bahrain, the 911 RSR lines up in the spec homologated for 2014. This means that the season final will be an important test for us under competition conditions, and it will undoubtedly produce some interesting information with regard to next season.”
Marc Lieb and Richard Lietz will be behind the wheel of the new 2014-spec car, adorned in the #92 livery, currently sitting in third in the chase for the World Endurance Cup for GT Drivers.
“The fact that we’re driving our 2014-spec car in Bahrain for the first time makes it a very special race for us,” said Lieb. “I’m confident that we’ll do well there and manage to wind up the season successfully.”
Their Porsche factory team-mates, Joerg Bergmeister and Patrick Pilet will share the cockpit of the #91 911, having recently clinched their fourth podium result of the year in the GTE-Pro class.
The GTE-Am class Porsches sees Raymond Narac and Jean-Karl Vernay close to taking the FIA Endurance Trophy in the IMSA Performance Matmut Porsche, joined by Markus Palttala in Bahrain, while Proton Competition fields a 911 GT3 RSR with team owner Christian Ried and team-mates Paolo Ruberti and Gianluca Roda.
