So far, Porsche has manufactured two hybrid versions of its 911 GT3 R racer. The first one was revealed at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show and it featured two electric motors powered not by a battery pack, as in most hybrids, but by an electric flywheel generator located in the passenger’s seat.
In typical Porsche fashion, the “Version 2.0” of the GT3 R Hybrid was a careful evolution of the previous model, with more power and better fuel consumption while also featuring subtle changes to the cockpit to ensure less driver fatigue in endurance racers.
Last Saturday, during the “Night of Champions” celebrations held by Porsche, Wolfgang Hatz, board member for Research and Development, confirmed that the company has approved the further development of the hybrid racer in 2012.
“There is no way around the hybrid technology in motorsport”, said Hatz. “With the 911 GT3 R Hybrid project we have shown you how we can test important future technologies on the race track and pave the way for motorsport success in the future. We will continue to determinedly blaze this trail and further develop the hybrid technology.”
This ties in perfectly with Porsche’s CEO Matthias Muller statement after the launch of the brand-new 911 at the IAA that a hybrid version of the production model “is under discussion”.
Furthermore, Porsche itself describes the 911 GT3 R Hybrid as a “rolling race laboratory” which will help it gain experience under the harsh conditions of races such as the 24 Hours of Nürburgring and thus improve its hybrid technology.
In the same event, Porsche unveiled the 911 GT3 RSR for the 2012 season. The updated GT racer, which is now 5 cm wider at the rear and with almost an extra 15 cm on the front fenders, will enter the FIA World Endurance Championship, the American Le Mans Series, the Le Mans Series, the International GT Open and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
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