Beyond the GT3
The Porsche 911 GT3 is a great car and all, but for those who want to kick things up a notch, the Porsche might just have something for them. A few months ago, the German automaker unveiled the 911 GT4 R. It’s the successor to the Cayman GT4 Clubsport, and it’s a race car through and through.
If you’re interested in the price, the GT4 R retails for $375,000, and for those who’d like to go pro and set up a race team, it’s a good option. But if that price is a touch too steep, Porsche has another option in the form of the 911 Challenge.
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The ‘Friendlier’ Version
For $100,000 less, you can get yourself the 911 Challenge to kickstart your amateur racing career. It’s still an all-out race car, mind you, but it’s a touch friendlier than the GT4 R that was shown earlier. You can think of it as a more enhanced and track-prepped version of the GT3 RS. The Challenge is the first step of the racing 911’s ladder, followed by the GT4 R and, eventually, the Cup.
As it is, the 911 Challenge has a lot of features already seen in the GT3 road car. Power remains the same at 508 hp, but it comes with a racing exhaust with a catalytic converter. The same seven-speed dual-clutch transmission is used and can even be left in automatic mode if needed. However, it comes with a more aggressive suspension arrangement; the braking technology used comes straight from the 911 Cup, and it rolls on slick tires. Curiously, though, it’s still running on five-lug wheels instead of the GT3’s center-lock setup.
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The Other Goodies
Admittedly, it’s not as stripped out as the GT4 R or the Cup, but a good chunk of the interior had been removed. All trims, carpets, and sound deadening were chucked out, and you can forget about power seats or any of the sort, or even a perch for the passenger side. A beefier rollcage is also part of the package, but surprisingly, the air-conditioning has been retained.
Also fitted to the car is a 29-gallon FIA FT3 fuel cell. The sole seat is an adjustable racing bucket with a six-point harness. As this is a competition vehicle, a fire-extinguishing system is also included. The 911 Challenge is a proper race car and thus is not street legal.
The price? It’s $275,000, which is actually less than a Turbo S Cabriolet, which goes for $284,300 base. The Challenge is also in the same ballpark as the GT3 S/C that carries a base price of $273,000. It is, however, more expensive than a standard GT3 ($235,800), but the Challenge is made for the track, not clout.
Porsche
Porsche
