The Porsche 911 needs no introduction at all but the new GT3 RS does as it is a massive change over its predecessors and not all of it is tied to its massive rear wing. With every subsequent model change, the GT3 RS is positioning itself as being different with its hardcore edge along with being a road racer while the standard GT3 tones it down a notch. Within the motorsport-infused road car division of Porsche aka the GT range, the RS models are always the extreme ones with the closest ties to motorsport.
With the RS moniker, Porsche has thrown the kitchen sink this time in terms of incorporating motorsport technology along with resorting to extreme measures in weight-saving or even aerodynamics.
The lightweight build, cooling, and aero bring in all you need to know regarding the new GT3 RS and not the usual power figures. There is a lot more downforce now with the bevy of wings at the front or at the back while there is also a drag reduction system (DRS). Everything has been honed to reduce weight and improve track performance which explains why the lightest version of the 911 GT3 RS weighs in at just 1,450 kg. All this is due to the doors, front wings, roof, front lid, and rear lid being made from carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP).
Everything is here for a purpose: including the massive front splitter, the rear wing which is the biggest on a Porsche, side blades, a wider track, and bigger intakes. The ‘Weissach package’ veers to another extreme by being even lighter.
The GT3 RS isn’t a huge change in terms of the horsepower count as it carries the 4.0-liter high-revving naturally aspirated engine from the GT3 albeit being tuned further. The seven-speed Porsche dual-clutch transmission (PDK) has a shorter overall gear ratio than the 911 GT3 and it is updated for track use rather than straight-line speeds. That said, the GT3 RS continues to be lightning quick dispatching zero to 100 km/h in 3.2 seconds and the ability to reach a top speed of 296 km/h in seventh gear. Bigger brakes including carbon ceramic ones are also there while you get road-legal sports tires measuring 275/35 R 20 at the front and 335/30 R 21 at the rear.
With a wing that resembles a massive dinner table along with extreme aerodynamics, the 2023 GT RS is Porsche’s GT department doing the ultimate rendition of what the ultimate track-oriented supercar should be like. It is not about more power or a bigger engine but how you make a car that defies physics in getting faster and faster. The 911 GT3 RS in its new form is also now a track-day supercar leaving a bigger room for the road-biased GT3 below. While the car is lightweight, the price isn’t with the 2023 GT3 RS being priced at $225,250- a considerable sum over the GT3 but for those who want the most extreme Porsche, this is it.
