Porsche’s Finally Built a GT4 Race Car Based on the 911
Porsche is still finding new ways to use the 911 after more than six decades
The German marque just unveiled its latest GT4 race car, the first to be based on its most iconic model. The vehicle will start competing next season and will be available for purchase in the U.S.
Porsche has been building cars for the GT4 class—the most accessible form of grand tourer racing—since 2016. But up until now, those racers have been based on the 718 Cayman. Well, that car is now out of production—for at least a while longer—but rather than leave competitors wanting, the automaker has chosen to homologate the 911 for the many GT4 racing series around the world.
The 2027 Porsche 911 GT4 R race car
Porsche
GT4 cars aren’t street legal, but they’re closer to their road-going counterparts than those found in most racing divisions. The last generation of the racer may have been based on the 718 RS Clubsport, and the new version borrows liberally from the 911 Cup that Porsche unveiled earlier this spring.
The 911 GT4 R is wider than its predecessor and more powerful, as well as coming with some new tech. The added oomph comes from the Cup’s high-revving 4.0-liter flat-six. The mill, which is mated to a six-speed dog gearbox with paddle shifter, makes up to 513 hp and 346 ft lbs of torque, though that number will fluctuate based on the requirements of whatever racing series the car is competing in. Despite the shared engine, the GT4 R’s wheels are an inch narrower than the Cup’s and utilize a five-bolt mounting pattern.
Inside the 911 GT4 R
Porsche
Other features of the race car include dual-adjustable dampers, three selectable spring rates, and a rear wing that is manually adjustable to 11 positions. The last component, along with the other aerodynamic elements, doors, and engine cover, all make use of natural-fiber-reinforced plastic. The stripped-down interior, meanwhile, is equipped with a 10.3-inch color display connected to a data logger and GPS.
“The combination of iconic 911 DNA and the tried-and-tested GT4 concept creates a unique offering in the market,” Thomas Laudenbach, the vice president of Porsche Motorsport, said in a statement. “Our decision to bring the 911 platform into the GT4 category underlines the growing importance of this class in international motorsport.”
The new 911 GT4 R is eligible for competition starting with the 2027 motorsports season. American-based racers will be able to buy the car for $375,000, a price that includes import and delivery fees.
Click here to see more photos of the 2027 Porsche 911 GT4 R.
Porsche
