The new mid-engine Porsche 911 GTE car has been revealed ahead of its racing debut in 2017.
It will be eligible to compete in a number of top international sportscar competitions, including the World Endurance Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
A GTLM-spec entry is also being planned for the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship.
Continuing the 911 naming trend, the new RSR will represent a step up from its predecessor with a naturally aspirated 4.0 litre flat six engine.
The new boxer power unit will be capable of producing around 510 brake horsepower, depending on restrictor size.
Other new features include a radar-supported collision warning system for dealing with LMP traffic, and improvements to the driver roll-cage and seat positioning.
(Credit: Porsche)
“While retaining the typical 911 design, this is the biggest evolution by now in the history of our top GT model,” said head of Porsche Motorsport Dr Frank-Steffen Walliser.
“For the 911 RSR, we deliberately focused on a particularly modern and light normally-aspirated engine, as this gave our engineers immense latitude in developing the vehicle.”
“Apart from that, in principle, the LM-GTE regulations stipulate the absolute equality of various drive concepts, as the torque characteristics of turbo and normally aspirated engines are aligned.”
The 2017-spec 911 RSR is being billed as the most developed Porsche GT racer ever, with over 35,000 kilometres of testing accrued at circuits in both Europe and North America.
It will make its racing debut at the Daytona 24 Hours in late January.
A total of 19 races are planned for next season, including a two-car factory assault on the World Endurance Championship following a single entry in 2016.
