Originally Posted by Whoopsy

Ignoring whether there are secret insider information or not. We can use common sense based on what's already out. .2 GT3 is gonna be shown in Geneva. GT2RS is gonna come out in the summer. in Porsche language, the 3 in GT models has always been NA cars and a 2 means turbo cars. Ever since FIA changed the names of the sports car racing to GTE, the GT3 and GT2 classes are no more, hence there isn't a direct connection with the names now. Their current race cars, the new Cup car is based on the .2GT3, the GT3R, which was just updated, is based on the current GT3RS. The GT3RSR, which has always been an extension of the GT3R, was just updated also to have a new mid-engine layout. All 3 cars are basically using the Gen 2 DFI 4.0L flat 6. Which will be the engine going into the GT3 as a Gen 2.5. This is all for 2017. Which was all set back in 2016. For 2018, Porsche might have no choice but to go to turbo engines to compete in the GTE class, which means no more racing NA engines, and no connections to road cars anymore. To maintain the connection to road cars, the incoming GT2RS can be used to homologate the 2018 race cars, GT3R and GT3RSR, and the turbo engine that will be in those race cars. Now, IF Porsche do a .2 GT3RS, what's the connection to their race cars? They only needed one if they want to stay NA for their 2018 GT3R, GT3RSR. Which seems highly unlikely. Ferrari, Ford has gone to turbo cars and left the Porsche cars in the dust. Aston Martin has already gone turbo with the DB11, that basically means the Vantage replacement will be having the AMG TT V8 soon, or even the TT V12. Their race cars will be going turbo also. The only reason Porsche will do a .2 GT3RS will be if their 2017 GT3RSR are highly competitive, winning most of the races with the NA mid engine layout. Then they might stick to NA engines for 2018 race cars and needed the .2 GT3RS as the base.

Originally Posted by TRAKCAR

^^ Right, you either believe in a 4.2L or straight to as many as they can build non-LE GT2RS.

Originally Posted by Whoopsy

Ignoring whether there are secret insider information or not.

We can use common sense based on what's already out.

.2 GT3 is gonna be shown in Geneva. GT2RS is gonna come out in the summer. in Porsche language, the 3 in GT models has always been NA cars and a 2 means turbo cars. Ever since FIA changed the names of the sports car racing to GTE, the GT3 and GT2 classes are no more, hence there isn't a direct connection with the names now.

Their current race cars, the new Cup car is based on the .2GT3, the GT3R, which was just updated, is based on the current GT3RS. The GT3RSR, which has always been an extension of the GT3R, was just updated also to have a new mid-engine layout. All 3 cars are basically using the Gen 2 DFI 4.0L flat 6. Which will be the engine going into the GT3 as a Gen 2.5.

This is all for 2017. Which was all set back in 2016.

For 2018, Porsche might have no choice but to go to turbo engines to compete in the GTE class, which means no more racing NA engines, and no connections to road cars anymore.

To maintain the connection to road cars, the incoming GT2RS can be used to homologate the 2018 race cars, GT3R and GT3RSR, and the turbo engine that will be in those race cars.

Now, IF Porsche do a .2 GT3RS, what's the connection to their race cars? They only needed one if they want to stay NA for their 2018 GT3R, GT3RSR. Which seems highly unlikely. Ferrari, Ford has gone to turbo cars and left the Porsche cars in the dust. Aston Martin has already gone turbo with the DB11, that basically means the Vantage replacement will be having the AMG TT V8 soon, or even the TT V12. Their race cars will be going turbo also.

The only reason Porsche will do a .2 GT3RS will be if their 2017 GT3RSR are highly competitive, winning most of the races with the NA mid engine layout. Then they might stick to NA engines for 2018 race cars and needed the .2 GT3RS as the base.

Originally Posted by Mr. Adair

Whoopsy mic drop! Although I am sure most everybody was sand bagging at the Roar I'm skeptical but hopeful the RSR will be competitive with the Fords and Ferraris. But they were a second off most of the test. Anybody have any secret info?

Originally Posted by Whoopsy

Ignoring whether there are secret insider information or not.

We can use common sense based on what's already out.

.2 GT3 is gonna be shown in Geneva. GT2RS is gonna come out in the summer. in Porsche language, the 3 in GT models has always been NA cars and a 2 means turbo cars. Ever since FIA changed the names of the sports car racing to GTE, the GT3 and GT2 classes are no more, hence there isn't a direct connection with the names now.

Their current race cars, the new Cup car is based on the .2GT3, the GT3R, which was just updated, is based on the current GT3RS. The GT3RSR, which has always been an extension of the GT3R, was just updated also to have a new mid-engine layout. All 3 cars are basically using the Gen 2 DFI 4.0L flat 6. Which will be the engine going into the GT3 as a Gen 2.5.

This is all for 2017. Which was all set back in 2016.

For 2018, Porsche might have no choice but to go to turbo engines to compete in the GTE class, which means no more racing NA engines, and no connections to road cars anymore.

To maintain the connection to road cars, the incoming GT2RS can be used to homologate the 2018 race cars, GT3R and GT3RSR, and the turbo engine that will be in those race cars.

Now, IF Porsche do a .2 GT3RS, what's the connection to their race cars? They only needed one if they want to stay NA for their 2018 GT3R, GT3RSR. Which seems highly unlikely. Ferrari, Ford has gone to turbo cars and left the Porsche cars in the dust. Aston Martin has already gone turbo with the DB11, that basically means the Vantage replacement will be having the AMG TT V8 soon, or even the TT V12. Their race cars will be going turbo also.

The only reason Porsche will do a .2 GT3RS will be if their 2017 GT3RSR are highly competitive, winning most of the races with the NA mid engine layout. Then they might stick to NA engines for 2018 race cars and needed the .2 GT3RS as the base.

Originally Posted by Guest89

I don't know who started the 4.2L rumor (I know it wasn't you Peter), but it is parroted around this website by people who don't follow or understand endurance racing and who apparently don't understand the flat 6 engine architecture. If the factory were comfortable with 4.2L swept volume (or any size larger than 4.0L), why haven't they done it years ago? They aren't, they won't. I've been told the RSR was carrying around some large bags of sand at the Roar, but I'm afraid that the Stuttgart boys will need to be supplicating for some sweet, sweet BOP to make them competitive. Even if the 2017 IMSA and - more importantly - WEC seasons are a washout for Porsche I don't see them moving to a turbo lump for GTE/GTLM until the arrival of the 992 (or whatever it's called), which will herald the arrival of an all-new GT race car. When has Porsche ever done that sort of thing? Much easier to lobby for helpful BOP until there is an opportunity to right the ship with the 992.

Originally Posted by Bardman

The reason that there are only 2 is that due to emissions regulations everyone switched to turbo. Comments like this suggest that incremental HP gains would have hit a brick wall if not for emissions regulations forcing us to turbo. Whilst I agree that the commercial drivers for Porsche to innovate in the NA space are diminished, based on commentary from Porsche themselves I think they recognise that there is still a market for small volume high margin NA cars (and potentially a market that they have exclusive ownership of).

Originally Posted by Guest89

Even if the 2017 IMSA and - more importantly - WEC seasons are a washout for Porsche I don't see them moving to a turbo lump for GTE/GTLM until the arrival of the 992 (or whatever it's called), which will herald the arrival of an all-new GT race car. When has Porsche ever done that sort of thing? Much easier to lobby for helpful BOP until there is an opportunity to right the ship with the 992.

Originally Posted by Whoopsy

Porsche can always keep the GT3 around for NA cars to fulfill a NA niche product, they don't need to keep around a NA GT3RS. An RS is always the hardcore track car that race cars are based on.

Originally Posted by Whoopsy

The turbo race cars' advantage is not the HP. it's the torque output, especially low down. it's the first 50-100m after corner exits that make the big difference. If one car can gain an advantage there, the rest of the pack will playing catchup for the whole straight.

That's Porsche's current racing philosophy, which they applied to the 919 race car and the 918 hybrid. One reason why the 918 is suppose to be slower on paper but it isn't. It gets up to speed quicker and while it might achieve a lower ultimate top speed on straight, it just covers the area under the curve quicker.

N/A engine is already hitting a brick wall if you haven't noticed, 120-130HP per litre is basically the current wall. To add more power to an NA engine, one has to either have a bigger displacement or spin it faster. Neither of which are attractive. Spinning something faster means more exotic materials and that drives up cost, while bigger displacement means worse fuel economy and higher insurance costs. For street cars, a turbo engine is attractive as it is cheap and easy to add power, basically just turn up the boost. The engine won't be spinning as fast hence cheaper, while it does need stronger material but those aren't expensive. Smaller displacement means during off boost government test cycles they will have a great showing, and the lower displacement also move the cars to a lower insurance bracket for certain countries.

Porsche can always keep the GT3 around for NA cars to fulfill a NA niche product, they don't need to keep around a NA GT3RS. An RS is always the hardcore track car that race cars are based on.

Originally Posted by Whoopsy

They don't have to do both engine and body change over at the same time.

If the NA engine remains competitive, yes, they could keep it around for one more season before the change over. But if it's not, they could change over the engine first and then let the body catch up. It would mean they can gain an extra year of development for the 992 race car engines.

Originally Posted by TRAKCAR

^^ Right, the GT4 also has room for an R. With GT3 motor.
I can see stripped out R models in the future without RWS even.

R basic basic light. In 911 and Cayman.
GT3 fun but slower and cheaper. In 911 and Cayman.
RS lowest laptime. 911 960.