Porsche Updates Its 911 Race Cars to Improve Drivability, Handling, Awesomeness
Kristen LeeWriterManufacturerPhotographerAug 08, 2025
Porsche 911 Cup and 911 GT3 R
It’s a new day, which means two new Porsche 911 race cars with which to tear up a track. Porsche says the updated version of its 911 GT3 R will be a better handler than before, and a new 911 Cup is set to replace the 911 GT3 Cup race car in the Carrera Cup in North America, Germany, Asia, and Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup. Both cars will be available for the 2026 season.
AI Quick Summary
Porsche’s updated 911 GT3 R and 911 Cup race cars, debuting for the 2026 season, feature enhanced handling, aerodynamics, and drivability. The GT3 R includes improved cooling and balance, while the 911 Cup has better brakes and controls. Both retain powerful flat-six engines.
1 Porsche 911 GT3 R race car
What’s New For the Porsche 911 GT3 R
Building on the existing 911 GT3 R, the updated version adds louvered ducts to the tops of its front wheel arches. Working in combination with the double wishbone front suspension setup, Porsche says the ducts help improve aerodynamic balance by resisting front-end lean under deceleration, enabling better and more predictable control over the front of the car while braking.
Porsche also improved the fluid cooling for the GT3 R’s electrohydraulic power-steering system in a bid to improve consistentcy when things start heating up, and teams can now more precisely adjust the rear brake cooling system for those big, high-speed braking points. For cabin comfort, the driver air vent has been modified for improved air circulation.
2 Porsche 911 GT3 R race car
The underbody is fully enclosed, and a modified multi-link rear axle helps the car resist “squatting” and rear-end lean during hard acceleration. Above that, the elegant swan-neck rear spoiler now features a 4-millimeter Gurney flap for broader aerodynamic adjustments.
Beyond that, several of the previous car’s options now come standard, including the pit lane link, camera, endurance, and sensor packages. But for more specific cases—such as during IMSA races—teams can still take their pick from special equipment options.
Powering the 911 GT3 R is the 4.2-liter flat-six that produces a claimed 557 hp; the drivetrain hasn’t really been changed at all in the updated car. But with all the cooling and balancing tweaks Porsche did, it seems like this version will both be easier to drive and stay at optimal temperatures better.
What’s Up with the Porsche 911 Cup
Time for the latest version of the 992.2-generation 911 to go racing. Meant for Porsche’s one-make series, the new 911 Cup wears a fascia that’s reminiscent of the current 911 GT3. There are no more daytime running lights, with the thinking being that in the event of a crash, they can neither damage the radiators that sit behind them, nor will they need replacing.
Improved aerodynamic downforce for the front axle is helped by louvered vents integrated into the fenders, while front end airflow is better optimized via vanes behind the front wheel arches. At the back, the rear wing’s swan-neck supports have been revised so teams can adjust it more easily.
5 Porsche 911 Cup race car
Porsche also increased the size of the 911 Cup’s front brakes, in part to give them bigger ventilation channels. Engineers also were able to increase the contact surface between the brake disc and the brake pad by reducing the outer diameter of the disc. In addition to enlarging the brake fluid reservoir, these should be helpful for durability during endurance races.
For the driver: a multi-function steering wheel with color-illuminated control buttons so they’re easier to read, and extra foam padding on the door crossbar for arm, leg, and foot protection. No doubt in an effort to reduce clutter, the central control panel now has eight switches rather than 10. Teams can also directly access the car’s settings from a menu page, which removes the need to connect everything to a laptop.
2 Porsche 911 Cup race car
Powering all of this is the 911 Cup’s naturally aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six, producing a claimed 512 hp. Teams can choose from three different exhaust systems depending on the noise requirements of their respective markets. Power is handled via a six-speed sequential transmission. Finally, Porsche gave the new 911 Cup an automatic restart function that’ll turn the engine over as soon as the driver depresses the clutch after stalling.
The 911 Cup will be sold exclusively by Porsche Motorsport North America. No pricing info accompanied this announcement, but these cars usually run in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. No has ever said racing was cheap, least of all racing in a Porsche.
Kristen Lee
I got into cars the way most people do: my dad. Since I was little, it was always something we’d talk about and I think he was stoked to have his kid share his interest. He’d buy me the books, magazines, calendars, and diecast models—everything he could do to encourage a young enthusiast. Eventually, I went to school and got to the point where people start asking you what you want to do with your life. Seeing as cars are what I love and writing is what I enjoy doing, combining the two was the logical next step. This dream job is the only one I’ve ever wanted. Since then, I’ve worked at Road & Track, Jalopnik, Business Insider, The Drive, and now MotorTrend, and made appearances on Jay Leno’s Garage, Good Morning America, The Smoking Tire Podcast, Fusion’s Car vs. America, the Ask a Clean Person podcast, and MotorTrend’s Shift Talkers. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, cooking, and watching the Fast & Furious movies on repeat. Tokyo Drift is the best one.