Stuttgart. Porsche’s success story at the Daytona 24 hour race continues. At the 49th running of the long distance classic in Florida, the sports cars from Zuffenhausen celebrated an impressive double victory. Porsche works driver Wolf Henzler (Germany) won the strongly-supported GT class with his American teammates Andy Lally, Spencer Pumpelly, Steven Bertheau and Brendan Gaughan at the wheel of TRG Racing’s Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. Despite starting from the back of the grid, they finished the race one lap clear of the Paul Miller Racing squad with Bryce Miller, Tim Sugden, Bryan Sellers and Rob Bell. For Porsche as the most successful manufacturer in the history of this race, this marked the 73rd class win.

TRG Racing's #67 Porsche GT3 Enroute To A Class Victory

“I’m thrilled to have won such a fabulous race for the second time since 2005,” said Wolf Henzler. “It was very tough fighting our way through the field. But our car was perfectly prepared and we were able to maintain our quick pace from start to finish.” For the Porsche factory pilot, this was his third straight win at a 24 hour race after Le Mans and Spa.

Magnus Racing's #44 Porsche GT3 In Pits During The 24hr Classic

Porsche works drivers Richard Lietz (Austria) and Marco Holzer (Germany), sharing driving duties with Americans Craig Stanton and John Potter in the 911 GT3 Cup of Magnus Racing, made the start of the 2011 motorsport season perfect for Porsche with fourth place. After leading the field with the Brumos-Porsche, works driver Marc Lieb and his American teammates Hurley Haywood, Leh Keen and Andrew Davis lost positions during the night after an off-excursion damaged the radiator. After a dramatic start and a gripping race, thick fog brought out the safety car for a good two and half hours in the early morning. The pilots put in an impressive charge and profited from the speed and reliability of the 911 GT3 Cup to clinch fifth.

Brumos Racing's #59 Porsche GT3 With Hurley Haywood Behind The Wheel

“Our Porsche 911 GT3 Cup ran perfectly,” said Marc Lieb. “We had a good chance to win. But in such a top-class field you simply can’t afford any lengthy repairs in the pits,” Richard Lietz: “As the old saying goes: A miss is as good as a mile. Still, we can be happy with fourth.” His teammate Marco Holzer agreed: “My second Daytona race went much better than my first last year. So my aim for 2012 is clear: I’m after the podium.”

Flying Lizards' #45 Daytona Prototype (DP) Entry

Porsche works driver Joerg Bergmeister (Germany) provided the first highlight on the Daytona International Speedway. After claiming pole position with his strong performance and a new lap record, he pulled clear of his rivals at the start of the race. With the Porsche-Riley, the overall Daytona winner from 2003 built up his advantage to 16 seconds by lap 27 before the first pit stop, and in the meantime turned the fastest lap of the race. His works driver teammate Patrick Long (USA) was running in second place when he handed the Flying Lizard Motorsports’ Daytona prototype powered by the Porsche six-cylinder engine over to Seth Neiman (USA). After just a few laps, in an attempt to avoid a spinning competitor in front of him, Neiman left the track and damaged the underbody and radiator. The team lost 19 laps through essential repairs. Ninety minutes before the flag, an oil cap on the left side of the engine came loose and the leaking oil caught fire. Repairs at this late stage made little sense.

“We were completely satisfied with the performance of our car over the entire weekend,” said Joerg Bergmeister. “We clinched pole position and turned the fastest race lap. Unfortunately, we lost a great deal of time early on in the race. At the end a fire caused by leaking oil signalled an early retirement for us.” Patrick Long said: “To now, Flying Lizard has had no experience with the Daytona prototype. Still, everyone became familiar with it very quickly. It’s just a shame that they couldn’t reap the rewards for all their hard work at the end.”

Action Express Racing's #9 Daytona Prototype (DP) Enroute To 3rd Place

In the overall classification, the best placed Porsche-Riley finished third with Joao Barbosa (Portugal), Christian Fittipaldi (Brazil), Max Papis (Italy) as well as Americans Terry Borcheller and JC France. The power-unit of the Daytona prototype fielded by Action Express Racing was a privately-developed eight-cylinder engine based on the Porsche Cayenne. The sister car, which had led on and off over the distance, saw the chequered flag in ninth place.

“Again this year, Porsche teams have made an indelible mark on the Daytona 24 hour race,” summarised Porsche’s Head of Motorsport, Hartmut Kristen. “The double victory in the GT class was well earned. My big compliments for the professional preparation. Flying Lizard Motorsports also gave a sensational performance at their Daytona campaign.”

Daytona Raceway

Race result

Overall classification

1. Pruett/Rojas/Rahal/Hand (USA/MEX/USA/USA), BMW-Riley (DP), 720 laps

2. Dixon/Franchitti/Montoya/MacMurray (NZ/GB/COL/USA), BMW-Riley (DP), 720

3. Barbosa/Borcheller/France/Papis/Fittipaldi (P/USA/USA/I/BRA), Porsche-Riley (DP), 720

GT class

1. Henzler/Lally/Pumpelly/Gaughan/Bertheau (D/USA/USA/USA/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 685 laps

2. Miller/Sellers/Bell/Sugden (USA/USA/USA/GB), Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 684

3. Espenlaub/Foster/Dempsey/Long (USA/USA/USA/USA), Mazda, 681

4. Lietz/Holzer/Stanton/Potter (A/D/USA/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 675

5. Lieb/Haywood/Keen/Davis (D/USA/USA/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 673

6. Tremblay/Edwards/Christodoulou/Bomarito (USA/USA/GB/USA), Mazda, 670

Daytona. The very mention of the name is enough to provoke the average race driver to think in terms such as: “strength, stamina, determination, and above all, commitment.”  Craig Stanton has all that covered. Stanton is starting in third position in the Magnus Racing #44 Porsche GT3 in this weekends’ running of the Rolex Daytona 24 Hour endurance event. To prepare himself for this grueling event, Stanton has developed an extreme physical/mental conditioning program – some people would call this insane…others will acknowledge this level of effort as crucial to success.

Craig Stanton’s workout on Wednesday, January 19 started at 6am at the Long Beach Rowing Association’s weight room in Marine Stadium near Belmont Shores in Long Beach, California, for about two and a half hours of weight work.

Magnus Racings' Craig Stanton is Physically And Mentally Ready For This Weekends' Race

It ended twenty-four hours later when he returned to the LBRA’s dock to row for a couple of hours on the tidal waters of the Long Beach Marina.

As part of his preparations for the Rolex 24 at Daytona, Stanton puts himself through a simulated 24 hour torture test every year ten days before the green flag drops in Daytona. His goal is to replicate the periods of workload and recovery that a driver experiences over the 24 hour race – including the lack of sleep which can prove to be a real physical and mental drain towards the end of the event.

To help him keep his intensity and motivation up, he recruits friends to join him for a workout or two throughout the day. High on his priorities are eating and hydrating well enough to keep his energy up, while resting enough to recover between each session.

Here is a breakdown of the Craig Stanton Daytona Mega Workout:

6:00 AM – 9:00 AM - Circuit and weight training, with a variety of weights, medicine balls, pull-ups, pushups, stability exercises, and presses. All are done with little recovery to keep heart rate up.

BREAKFAST – A plate of raisin toast, fruits, vegetables, and egg whites. Craig also augments each meal with Recoverite from Hammer Nutrition, which accelerates the recovery process.

10:30 AM – 12:30 PM –  Rowing in a two man boat with friend. The two rowed approximately eight miles in the Long Beach Marina.

LUNCH – After eating a sweet potato and two waffles with almond butter, Craig went to Wahoo’s and powered down some Chicken Tacos with rice and beans.

3:30 PM – 5:30 PM – Craig and Magnus PR guy Efrain Olivares jumped on their road bikes and went for a 31 mile bike ride. The two averaged around 19 mph with some major head and crosswinds.

DINNER – Craig’s wife, Joy, made a dinner of turkey burgers, a large salad, and cauliflower. Craig also downed some more Recoverite.

9:30 PM – 11:30 PM – Craig jumped back on his bike and went for another two hour bike ride, with the bike decked out in lights to deal with the dark. Riding at night presents similar challenges to racing at night, even though Daytona International Speedway is extremely well lit.

MIDNIGHT SNACK – Oats, tree bark, and some soy, and a cup of coffee.

3:30 AM – 5:00AM – Instead of exercise, Craig jumped on the racing simulator he has set up in his garage. His nephew, Drew, had set some fast times on BAJA: Edge of Control that Craig would attempt to match. The simulator would test Craig’s mental clarity and concentration levels after nearly 24 hours of workouts and a lack of sleep similar to what you have around sunrise at the Rolex 24.

7:00 AM – 9:30 AM – Craig and wife Joy – who herself is a competitive rower – returned to the LBRA’s docks for one final workout. Although it exceeded the twenty-four hour timetable that he had set for the workout, it allowed Craig the chance to assess his fitness with a workload greater than he would experience in the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

The workout not only allows Craig to physically prepare for the 24 hour contest, it also reminds him of several elements of competing in the race that often crop up.

“There’s stuff that comes up during the workout that reminds me of other things I need to keep in mind for the 24 hour,” said Stanton. “Because the recovery between stints is so critical, I need to plan to have all of my food and drinks ready right when I get out of the car to maximize the time I spend resting. But things always come up – we have a long yellow, or a long pit stop to fix damage, I end up talking to the crew or doing an interview – and this can eat up a lot of time and throw off your rhythm. Minimizing the distractions is one of the hardest parts of these endurance races.”

This year, teamed with Magnus Racing’s John Potter and Porsche factory drivers Marco Holzer and Richard Lietz, Stanton is the best prepared he’s ever been for Daytona.

“I feel great and we have a really strong team,” he said. “I can’t wait to get this race started!”

As the Fittest Man in Motorsports, it is the insanity such as this that lets Craig be as fast behind the wheel of the no. 44 Magnus Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup at 3:30 PM on Sunday as he was at 3:30 PM on Saturday.

For more information about Magnus Racing and Craig Stanton, visitwww.magnusracing.com, or follow them on facebook.com/magnusracing and twitter.com/magnusracing.

January 24, 2011 (Salt Lake City, Utah) One year removed from their GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 debut, Magnus Racing is returning to the famed Florida endurance classic with a clear goal for the team’s drivers to return home with a Rolex Daytona Cosmograph on their wrists.

In the 2010 edition of the race, the team overcame several hurdles in the first few hours, falling to seventeenth in the GT class. With the crew working tirelessly to keep the no. 44 Magnus Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup going, the team rallied through the night and through the next day to finish a strong fifth.

After a successful test at the Roar Before the 24, Magnus Racing’s John Potter, residing in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Craig Stanton, from Long Beach, California, will be joined by Porsche factory drivers Marco Holzer, from Germany, and Richard Lietz, from Austria. Lietz competed in last year’s Rolex 24 at Daytona with Magnus Racing, and was with at the wheel when the no. 44 Magnus Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup took the checkered flag in fifth position.  Holzer, recently named as a Porsche factory driver, is making his second appearance at the Rolex 24 at Daytona. The 24-year-old German teamed with Potter and Stanton in the 2009 race.

Potter, Magnus Racing’s team owner, is thrilled with the progress that the team made in its first season and with the momentum that it carries to Daytona after a successful winter of testing and development with its new 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup.

“It was really gratifying that Porsche thought enough of our program to entrust us with two of their factory drivers” said Potter. “We’ve been very happy with our new Porsche and have been focused on the testing and development of the car. I think we have a very, very strong package thanks to our partnership with Porsche.  Their cars always do well in any endurance contest, and we know how well Craig, Marco, and Richard can do in these twenty-four hour races.”

Stanton, whose preparation for the race involved a twenty-four hour workout session, is enthused at participating in his twelfth Rolex 24 at Daytona.

“I’ve never been so excited about heading to Daytona for the 24 Hour,” said Stanton. “This is the strongest lineup and best team I have been a part of yet. We were really happy with our test at Daytona and with how dialed in we are with the new Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. I’m really looking forward to racing with Marco and Richard again. Both are great guys who will definitely help John and me, and they’re some of the fastest guys around.”

Fans of Magnus Racing will be able to interact directly with the team throughout the Rolex 24 at Daytona via the team’s Live Blog, which will be available at www.magnusracing.com. Fans will be able to ask questions and that the team’s staff and drivers will answer throughout the entire 24 hour contest.

More information about Magnus Racing can be found at www.magnusracing.com. Any organization interested in learning more about how to be involved with one of the most unique and visible teams in the Grand-American Rolex Sports Car Series can e-mail info@magnusracing.com. All press inquiries can be directed to press@magnusracing.com

Photos by Regis Lefebure.

]]> http://www.pmletter.com/blog/2011/01/27/its-not-watch-shopping-its-watch-hunting-magnus-racing-heads-to-daytona/feed/ 1 http://www.pmletter.com/blog/2010/12/11/porsche-911-gt3-rsr-for-2011/ http://www.pmletter.com/blog/2010/12/11/porsche-911-gt3-rsr-for-2011/#comments Sat, 11 Dec 2010 18:11:52 +0000 Thom http://www.pmletter.com/blog/?p=5379

Debut for the 2011 version of the world’s most successful GT race car

Stuttgart. The Porsche 911 GT3 RSR takes off into the new motorsport season with extensive modifications. The 2011 version of the world’s most successful GT race car celebrated its international premiere at the “Night of Champions” party held at the R&D Centre in Weissach to mark the end of the motorsport season. Priority in the further development of the GT3 RSR was given to the newly designed aerodynamics at the front and rear, changes to the suspension kinematics and to the engine.

Photo: Courtesy Of Porsche

The 4.0-litre, six-cylinder boxer engine now delivers 455 hp (355 kW) at 7,800 revs, five horsepower more than its predecessor. The power increase results from an engine management system which adapts even better to different fuel grades, as well as a redesigned exhaust system and a modified air intake housing. Moreover, the driveability of the famously efficient engine has undergone further improvements. Maximum revs remain unchanged at 9,400 rpm.

Photo: Courtesy Of Porsche

Clearly visible are the modifications to the front. A new front lip provides higher downforce at the front axle. The front wheels are now wider with the rims growing from 11 to 12 inches giving additional grip and less of an understeering tendency. The position of the rear wing and the shape of the wing mounting also underwent optimisation and were adapted to the new rear fairing with additional air outlet louvers. The rear lid was also redesigned for optimised air ducting. Like the 911 GT3 Cup and the GT3 R, the RSR has now been equipped with the LED rear lights taken from the latest 911 road-legal cars.

Photo: Courtesy Of Porsche

The 911 GT3 RSR joins the 911 GT3 R and the 911 GT3 Cup as the top model of Porsche Motorsport’s product range. The successful long distance racer from Weissach can be ordered now at a price of 410,000 Euro plus country-specific value added tax. All 2011 modifications are available as a kit for GT3 RSR cars from the 2010 season.

Technical description Porsche GT3 RSR (2011 model year)

Engine
Water-cooled six-cylinder boxer engine; 3,996 cc; stroke 80.4 mm; bore 102.7 mm; 455 hp (335 kW) at 7,800 rpm; max. torque 450 Nm; air restrictors 2 x 28.6 mm; max. revs 9,400 rpm; four valve technology; dry sump lubrication; individual throttle butterflies; fuel injection.

Transmission
Porsche six-speed gearbox with sequential jaw-type shift; oil/water heat exchanger, single-mass flywheel; hydraulic disengagement lever; three-plate carbon-fibre clutch; rear wheel drive; limited slip differential 45/65 percent.

Body
Monocoque body (basis GT3 RS) of hot-galvanised steel; aerodynamically optimised front end with front spoiler; aerodynamically optimised front underfloor; adjustable rear wing; 90-litre FT3 safety fuel tank with fast filling function; air jack; welded-in safety cage; race seat (driver’s side only) with flame retardant upholstery; six-point seat belt adapted for use of the HANS Head and Neck Support; electric fire extinguishing system.

Suspension
Front axle: McPherson spring strut axle; Sachs four-way gas pressure dampers; double coil springs (main and auxiliary); front axle arms adjustable for camber; adjustable sword-type anti-roll bar; power steering.
Rear: Multi-arm axle with rigidly mounted axle sub-frame; Sachs four-way gas pressure dampers; double coil springs (main and auxiliary); rear axle tie-bar reinforced and infinitely adjustable; adjustable sword-type anti-roll bar. Complete suspension infinitely adjustable (height, camber, track).

Photo: Courtesy Of Porsche

Brake system
Brake system with balance bar control.
Front: Single-piece six-piston aluminium fixed callipers; inner vented, 380 mm diameter; racing brake pads.
Rear: Single-piece four-piston aluminium fixed callipers; inner vented, 355 mm diameter; racing brake pads.

Wheels
Front: Three-piece BBS light-alloy wheels (12J x 18 ET 34); central bolt.
Rear: Three-piece BBS light-alloy wheels (13J x 18 ET 12.5); central bolt.

Electrical system
Motec display with integrated data recording; multi-function display with integrated gearshift indicator; adjustable traction control; battery: 12 volt, 80 Ah, 140 Ah alternator.

Photo: Courtesy Of Porsche

Weight
1,220 kg

Porsche Motorsport around the world – October, 2010

American Le Mans Series: Tenth GT drivers’ title for Porsche pilots.
At the finale on the Road Atlanta circuit in the US State of Georgia (2 October) Porsche works drivers Joerg Bergmeister and Patrick Long celebrated their title defence in the strongly-supported GT class. This latest success is Bergmeister’s fifth driver’s championship in the ALMS with Porsche. Patrick Long, his teammate at Flying Lizard Motorsports, has notched up three titles. Since the start of the ALMS in 1999, Porsche pilots have won, amongst other accolades, ten GT driver’s titles. The outstanding efficiency of the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR once again yielded victory in the environmental Michelin Green X Challenge for Porsche.

Flying Lizard Pilots: Joerg Bergmeister And Patrick Long

Porsche Intelligent Performance: Le Mans winners pilot 911 GT3 R Hybrid
A fitting debut for the innovative Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid in the USA: At the season final of the ALMS, Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas and Mike Rockenfeller – the overall winners of this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours – took on the job in the cockpit. The race car with its ground-breaking hybrid technology ran like clockwork and provided engineers with valuable data to further develop the system.

GT3 R Hybrid Drivers Timo Bernhard, Mike Rockenfeller, And Romain Dumas (l to r.)

Works driver Wolf Henzler: Chequered flag for the bachelor
On 9 October after a 12 month engagement, Porsche works driver Wolf Henzler and his fiancée Antje finally tied the knot. The couple live in Nürtingen near Stuttgart with their son Noah.

Mr. And Mrs. Wolf Henzler

In 2010, Henzler won the GT2 class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in a Porsche 911 GT3 RSR and claimed overall victory at the Spa 24 hour race.

Please continue to Part II.

Porsche Motorsport around the world – October, 2010

International GT Open: Patrick Pilet and Raymond Narac still on title course
After claiming fourth at race 13 and victory at race 14 in Monza (2/3 October), Porsche works driver Patrick Pilet and Raymond Narac travel to the final round in Barcelona ranking second in the championship. 15 points separate the two IMSA Performance Matmut pilots from the current Ferrari leaders. 44 points are still up for grabs.

Performance Matmut Drivers: Patrick Pilet And Raymond Narac

Italian GT Championship: Gian Luca Roda is the GT3 champion
Second at race 13 and a cautious fifth at the 14th and final race of the Italian GT Championship in Monza (24 October) was enough for Gian Luca Roda to clinch the GT3 title at the wheel of the 911 GT3 R fielded by Autorlando Sport. Roda shared the cockpit at these decisive races again with Porsche factory pilot Richard Lietz.

Porsche Works Driver Richard Lietz

French GT: Strong finish for Bornhauser and Groppi yields championship
Only at the last race weekend in Magny-Cours (16/17 October) was the fight for the title of the French FFSA GT Championship decided. Patrick Bornhauser and Laurent Groppi took up the two final heats in their Larbre Compétition 911 GT3 R ranking second in the points. Victory at race one kept their title chances open. Second place at race two yielded the pair the championship against strong opposition from a Corvette over six gruelling weekends.

Belcar Endurance: Goossens and Soulet head to final as points’ leaders
After their third win of the season at round five in Zolder (10 October), Marc Goossens and Maxime Soulet travel to the final, the Zolder 10 Hours (13 November), leading the points. Goossens and Soulet drive a Porsche 911 GT3 R from Prospeed Competition.

Belcar Endurance Pilot: Maxime Soulet

Carrera Cup Deutschland: Old-hand Armindo beats rookie Tandy
Finishing the finale in Hockenheim (17 October) in fifth, Nicolas Armindo from France crowned his sixth season in the Carrera Cup Deutschland with the championship title. Three victories and points from all nine events was the key to success for the Hermes Attempto Racing pilot. Armindo is the first non-German champion in the Carrera Cup Deutschland. His arch rival was the British rookie Nick Tandy, who concluded the year as runner-up after five wins.

Nicolas Armindo

Carrera Cup France: Makowiecki beats Estre by a mere point
Four straight wins, the last two at the final in Magny-Cours (16/17 October), gave Frédéric Makowiecki (Luxury Racing) a one-point lead over Kévin Estre (Sofrev ASP) to claim the title. From 13 races, the new champion notched up seven victories.

French Champ: Frederic Makowiecki

Carrera Cup Great Britain: Tim Harvey claims title with brilliant timing
Tyre damage in the last race saw Tim Harvey come away with the only zero result of the year but luckily when he had nothing to lose – he was already the 2010 champion. Harvey notched up eleven wins and seven second places from 20 races in the Red Line Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, to clinch the trophy at the penultimate round in Brands Hatch (9 Oct.).

British Champion: Tim Harvey

Please continue to Part III

Porsche Motorsport around the world – October, 2010

Carrera Cup Asia: Christian Menzel recaptures the points’ lead
On the Shanghai International Circuit (23/24 October), reigning champion Christian Menzel elbowed his arch rival Craig Baird off the top of the points’ table with a victory at the ninth race in torrential rain. At race ten, Menzel made the weekend perfect for his StarChase squad with another win at the wheel of his Porsche 911 GT3 Cup.

(l to r) Darryl O'Young, Christian Menzel, Craig Baird

Carrera Cup Japan: Yasuhiro Shimizu calls on experience to defend title
Reigning champion Yasuhiro Shimizu (Team Art Taste) called on his experience during the last and decisive race weekend in Motegi (23/24 October). After a jumped start and the ensuing drive-through penalty for his arch rival, the young racing talent Hideto Yasuoka, Shimizu scored a win in race one. In the final race, Yasuoka was the winner, while Shimizu avoided taking any risks to bring home second and defend the title.

(l to r) Yasuhiro Shimizu, Hideto Yasuoka, Hisamori Hayashi

Patrón GT3 Challenge: Henrique Cisneros wins the Gold Cup
After the 14th and final race on the Road Atlanta circuit (1 October) rookie Henrique Cisneros was delighted to take home the title in the Gold Cup class for 911 GT3 Cup cars from the model years 2005 to 2009. Assisting as coach of the NGT Motorsport pilot, for whom only the Sebring circuit was familiar, was none other than Porsche works driver Wolf Henzler.

Henrique Cisneros On The Podium

GT3 Cup Challenge Australia: Roger Lago is the new champion
It looked like the title was in the bag: Reigning champion Matt Kingsley travelled to the last three races on the Sandown Raceway (23/24 October) with a comfortable points’ lead over his pursuer Roger Lago. But Kingsley then seriously damaged his Porsche in a high-speed crash during the qualifying session. He was uninjured but had to watch from the pit wall as Lago, with his usual caution, drove the Falcon Property Group/Lago Coldstores 911 GT3 Cup home to his first unexpected championship. Kane Rose won all three races of the weekend.

Roger Lago In The Winner's circle

Super Sports Cup: Final wins for Heyrowski and Jahn, Micanek champion
Victory at the two final races of the Porsche Super Sports Cup in Hockenheim went to Sven Heyrowski in the Porsche 911 GT3 R as well as David Jahn in a 911 GT3 Cup. The trophies were presented by the Chairman of the Board at Porsche AG, Matthias Müller, Board Member of Sales and Marketing, Bernhard Maier, as well as the Managing Director of Porsche Germany, Klaus Zellmer. The championship title went to the Czech Tomas Micanek, who had already been confirmed as champion prior to the final round.

New Champion Tomas Micanek

Race notes: Gian Luca Roda and Raffaele Giammaria win the GTS class at both Spanish GT races in Jerez (17/18 October) with the 911 GT3 R of Autorlando Sport. +++ The Belgian Mühlner Motorsport squad concludes the 2010 ADAC GT Masters with third in the team classification. Joerg and Tim Bergmeister take up the final race of the Nürburgring VLN Long Distance Championship for the team on 30 October. +++ British GT: David Ashburn and Glynn Geddie clinch second at the season finale in Donington (17 October) in the Trackspeed Porsche 911 GT3 R. Ashburn had already become champion. +++ Timo Bernhard, Arno Klasen and Lucas Luhr yielded second at round 9 of the Nürburgring VLN Long Distance Championship (16 October) in the Manthey-Porsche 911 GT3 R after tyre poker in changeable weather. Six Porsche 911 amongst the top ten. +++ After the 11th and 12th race of the GT3 Cup Challenge Brasil in Curitiba, Ricardo Rosset holds on to his points’ lead with four races left on the calendar. With a win, André Posses secured the championship title in the “Light Class” for older 911 GT3 Cup cars. +++ In the GT3 Cup Challenge Eastern Europe the decision for the title is between points’ leader Cenk Ceyisakar and his pursuer Yüzel Ozbek heading to the final with races 13 and 14 on the Grand Prix circuit of Istanbul (5/6 Nov.).

The 911 GT3 RSR is the most successful GT racer in the world

Stuttgart. Once again, the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR is the world’s most successful GT race car. The fastest racing-911, developed following the rules of the GT2 category and based on the principles of Porsche Intelligent Performance, left its mark on race tracks around the globe with good lap times, excellent reliability and particularly low fuel consumption. Powered by a 450 hp four-litre six-cylinder boxer engine, the vehicle triumphed in the GT2 category in 2010 at the Le Mans 24 hour race, won championships in the Le Mans Series and the American Le Mans Series and claimed overall victories at the 24 hour races in Dubai and Spa-Francorchamps. It won against strong competitors including Ferrari, BMW, Aston Martin,

The Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, based on the road-legal 911 GT3 RS, not only impressed with race wins. In the American Le Mans Series, it was once again the GT vehicle with the best overall efficiency in the ratio of lap times and fuel consumption. For this, the vehicle was the overall winner of the environmental Michelin Green X Challenge for the second time in succession. And at the Le Mans 24 Hours, the RSR also won the Green X Challenge. “It’s giving the right signal to place more importance on the efficiency of a racing car,” says Hartmut Kristen, Head of Porsche Motorsport. “Winning the Green X Challenge, which is a very important success for us, proves that the Porsche 911 is not only fast, but also very economical.”

In its current form, the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR of the 997 type has been sold to international customers since 2007. From year to year, the top model of 911 racing vehicles received ongoing modifications. The most conspicuous changes were made to the 2009-model. The capacity of the six-cylinder boxer engine at the rear grew from 3.8 to 4.0-litres, resulting in an optimised torque curve at reduced revs as well as better driveability. The most distinguishing feature of the still current 911 GT3 RSR is the redesigned front section with a large ventilation opening. Noticeable at first sight are the air outlet slots, the so-called louvers, on the front hood. They are an indication of the completely revamped air ducting of the radiators, which became necessary through the new design of supply and discharge air with the installation of an optional air-conditioning unit. The aerodynamics under the rear underwent further optimisation. The rear wing now features a wider adjustment range. Compared to the 2008-model, the weight-optimised brake system and the lighter wiring harness contribute to further improved driving dynamics.

A great deal of know-how from the successful RS Spyder sports prototype went into the gearbox of the 911 GT3 RSR. The sequential six-speed gearbox developed by Porsche engineers is considerably lighter than the unit fitted in the predecessor and has much less internal friction. The flatter angle to the drive shafts allow teams greater scope for the suspension set-up. Success lies in direct attention to the smallest of details.

Please Continue To Part II

Porsche 911 GT3 RSR – Recent History (up to the 2010 season)

The foundation for today’s successes was already laid with the racing variants of the Porsche 911 996 type. Built to contest the GT class of the Le Mans 24 Hours, the 911 GT3 R clinched virtually all GT class wins in the 1999 American Le Mans Series. In 2001, the modified 911 GT3 RS version was raced. This vehicle was not just successful in its class, but also celebrated prestigious overall wins, with the two German Porsche works drivers Joerg Bergmeister and Timo Bernhard an team owner Kevin Buckler beating significantly more powerful prototypes at the Daytona 24 hour race in 2003. Porsche factory pilot Marc Lieb (Germany) won the 24 Hours of Spa with Romain Dumas (France) and Stéphane Ortelli (Monaco) in the same year beating all the much more powerful GT1 cars.

In the 2004 season, the successor model 911 GT3 RSR (996) made its debut. The output of its 3.6-litre six-cylinder boxer engine increased to 455 hp (335 kW) at 8,500 rpm, the maximum torque to 410 Nm at 7,200 rpm. By winning the American Le Mans Series (GT class), the Le Mans Endurance Series (GT) as well as the FIA GT Championship (N-GT), as well as class victories at the Le Mans and Spa 24 hour races and the Petit Le Mans event, the new racing sports car celebrated a brilliant debut season.

“It’s impressive how the 911 GT3 RSR has developed from year to year. The lap times alone are astounding, because despite the restrictions imposed on us again and again by the regulations, the car just got faster every year,” says Porsche works driver Joerg Bergmeister, who celebrated the majority of his successes at the wheel of the RSR. For this reason, the five-time winner of the American Le Mans Series is not at all anxious about tackling the 2011 season: “When you finish a season you always think: now we’ve reached our limit, now the car’s gone as far as it can go. And then Porsche comes up with something new again. And I reckon it won’t be any different in 2011.”

Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (997) – Most important successes

2010
Winner American Le Mans Series (GT class)
Winner Le Mans Series (GT2 class)
1st place Le Mans 24 Hours (GT2 class)
1st place Dubai 24 Hours (overall win)
1st place Spa 24 Hours (overall win)

2009
Winner American Le Mans Series (GT2 class)
Winner Le Mans Series (GT2 class)
Winner FIA GT Championship (GT2 class)
1st place Nürburgring 24 Hours (overall win)

2008
Winner American Le Mans Series (GT2 class)
1st place Sebring 12 Hours (GT2)
1st place Nürburgring 24 Hours (overall win)
1st place Dubai 24 Hours (overall win)

2007
Winner International GT Open Championship
1st place Le Mans 24 Hours (GT2 class)
1st place Nürburgring 24 Hours (overall win)
1st place Spa 24 Hours (GT2 class)
1st place Petit Le Mans (GT2 class)
1st place Mil Milhas Sao Paulo (GT2 class)

Please Continue To Part III

Porsche 911 GT3 RSR – Technical description (2010 season)

Engine: Water-cooled, six-cylinder boxer engine; four-valves per cylinder; 3,996 cc; stroke 80.4 mm; bore 102.7 mm; 331 kW (450 hp) at 7,800 rpm; max torque 430 Nm at 7,250 rpm; max revs 9,400 rpm; dry sump lubrication; individual throttle butterflies; fuel injection; air restrictors 2 x 28,6 mm.

Transmission: Six-speed gearbox with sequential jaw-type shift; oil/water heat exchanger; single-mass flywheel; hydraulic disengagement lever; three-plate carbon-fibre clutch; rear wheel drive; limited slip differential 45/65%.

Body: Monocoque body (basis 911 GT3 RS) of hot-galvanised steel; aerodynamiccally optimised front end with front spoiler; aerodynamically optimised front underfloor; adjustable rear wing; 90-litre safety fuel tank with fast filling function; air jack; welded-in safety cage; bucket-type racing seat (driver’s side only) with flame retardant seat cover; six-point seat belt adapted for use of the HANS Head and Neck Support; electric fire extinguishing system.

Suspension: Front axle: McPherson spring strut axle; Sachs four-way gas pressure dampers; double coil springs (main and auxiliary spring); front axle arms adjustable for camber; adjustable sword-type anti-roll bar on both sides; power steering.
Rear: Multi-arm axle with rigidly mounted axle sub-frame; Sachs four-way gas pressure dampers; double coil springs (main and auxiliary spring); rear axle tie-bar reinforced and infinitely adjustable; adjustable sword-type anti-roll bar on both sides. Complete suspension infinitely adjustable (height, camber, track).

Brakes: Brake system with balance bar control. Front: Single-piece six-piston aluminium fixed callipers; inner-vented, 380 mm in diameter; racing brake pads. Rear: Single-piece four-piston aluminium fixed callipers; inner-vented, 355 mm in diameter; racing brake pads.

Wheels: Front: Three-piece BBS light-alloy wheels (11J x 18-34); central bolt. Rear:
Three-piece BBS light-alloy wheels (13J x 18-12.5); central bolt.

Electrical system: Motec display with integrated data recording; multi-function display with integrated gearshift indicator; adjustable traction control; battery: 12 volt, 50 Ah, 140 Ah alternator.

Weight: Approx. 1,220 kg complying with A.C.O. regulations, 1,245 kg complying with FIA regulations.