The 911 Challenge will fill the void left by the 718 Cayman GT4 RS, confirming Porsche’s efforts to keep the racing segment accessible.
Hãng cho biết mẫu xe này sẽ đóng vai trò là cỗ máy đua phân khúc "nhập môn" (entry-level). The 911 Challenge is aimed at Porsche customers who are looking for the opportunity to get involved in motorsport but have not yet owned the 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport.
The car model is eligible to participate in many identical racing events (one-make series) worldwide, including tournaments Porsche Sprint Trophy Porsche Owners Club newly established.
The appearance of the 911 Challenge also means that all four of the brand’s current customer racing models (the remaining three models are GT3 R, Cup and GT4 R) are all developed based on the company’s most iconic cars.
Regarding operation, the 911 Challenge is equipped with a 4.0L 6-cylinder engine – similar to the 992.2 generation GT3 commercial car, combined with a 7-speed PDK automatic transmission.
In this version, the mid-mounted engine block produces 508 horsepower and 470 Nm (347 ft-lbs) of torque, and can reach a maximum rpm of 9,000 rpm. According to the magazine Car and Driver, the slight increase in power compared to the standard version (502 horsepower and 449 Nm) comes from an optimized exhaust system to reduce drag.
However, this small increase in power is not the only thing that distinguishes the racing version from the commercial one. Although the 911 Challenge inherits the complete sports aerodynamic package, chassis and powertrain of the GT3 series, the car’s interior space offers a complete contrast.
Almost all of the existing high-end amenities have been removed. Instead, there is a fixed welded anti-roll frame, an automatic fire suppression system and a single adjustable racing seat with a 6-point seat belt. However, Porsche still retains the driver’s air conditioning system.
Other changes on the vehicle include a pneumatic chassis lift system (air jack system), 110-liter fuel tank and standard 18-inch 5-screw wheels with integrated ability to mount slick racing tires (racing slicks).
911 Challenge is expected to officially open for sale next year at a price of 275,000 USD, although the specific time has not yet been announced.
Đây có thể xem là một mức giá khá cao đối với một chiếc xe đua thuộc phân khúc "nhập môn", nhưng thực tế con số này không chênh lệch quá nhiều so với một chiếc GT3 bản tiêu chuẩn khi được trang bị thêm một số tùy chọn cao cấp.
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