2.11.2010

NEWS // ECO-MONTSTER: PORSCHE'S 911 GT3R HYBRID

According to our sources, Porsche will unveil a hybrid version of their 911 GT3R racing car at the Geneva Auto Show next month. Additionally, Porsche will enter their new eco-friendly race car into the Nurburgring 24 Hours this Spring... [read more]

The car, which is based on Porsche's RSR chassis, features a KERS system in conjunction with it's rear-mounted, 480hp 4.0-liter flat-six. The KERS unit, which resides where the passenger might normally sit, is an inertia type flywheel design that collects energy from the the front wheels and, when fully charged, will release up to 120 kilowatts (roughly 160 horsepower) to the front wheels in six to eight second bursts, all of which in controlled by a button mounted to the steering wheel.

Although Porsche has not released any performance figures for their new eco-monster, the 911 GT3 R Hybrid is expected to make its racing debut at the Nurburgring 24 Hours on May 15th, and, assuming all goes as planned, Porsche plan to enter it into the 2012 24 Hours of Le Mans.



Images and Info: Porsche
Editorial: Justin W. Coffey

TAGS // , , ,

4 comments:

  1. AnonymousFebruary 11, 2010 8:09 AM

    2012 Le Mans? Why wait so long?

    ReplyDelete
  2. ForzamanFebruary 11, 2010 4:30 PM

    Don't think I want to be sitting next to a flywheel spinning 15K rpm ?? Again seems silly. How bout they make one of those cars were you pull it backwards and it stores its energy in a spring. They sell them already at Toys R Us.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Luke (RaceSuppliesSydney)February 12, 2010 12:58 AM

    Anonymous - A friend of mine works at Weissach in Advanced Powertrain Development, they do nothing by halves! They were incredibly busy up to and over Christmas time and i believe this is why. He was sleeping at work each night and working weekends, that is how full on it was!

    I will certainly ask him next time i speak to him.

    As i say, Porsche do not release something in competition until it is proven to be 100% reliable. This will be no different, hence 2012! I would say the N'Ring 24 hours will show it works, and they will refine it and use it at Le Mans 2011. I think it will put another nail in the Ferrari F430 coffin! :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Luke (RaceSuppliesSydney)February 15, 2010 12:20 AM

    As i suspected, my friend was involved in this. He drew up the initial plans for it! :)

    2007/2008 was when research started and he has two guys working out what method to use by doing race simulations, the other researched the flywheel technology.

    Understandably, he's very proud of what they achieved, and i am told there is more in store soon! :)

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)