Porche 999 GT3 RS

After winning the 1998 24 Hours of Le Mans overall with the Porsche 911 GT1, Porsche had announced not to enter the 1999 Le Mans with a factory car suitable to defend the overall win against the competition by major automakers due to an internal agreement with Ferdinand Piech to leave the field to the Audi R8. Instead, Porsche decided to focus again on less expensive GT racing classes at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Grand-Am Rolex racing series, and began making plans to modify the new 996 generation of the 911. They set out to develop the race car simultaneously with a road-going variant which was required by GT class homologation rules. The car debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in 1999 before going on sale.

Engine and transmission
The engine of the GT3 sets it apart from the other 996 models although it shares the same basic 3.6 liter displacement of the standard 996 type so-called "integrated dry-sump" flat-six engine. It is actually based on the original air-cooled 911's versatile, true dry-sump crankcase, with an external oil tank. The original version of the GT3 had 360 PS (355 hp/265 kW), compared to the 300 PS (296 hp/221 kW) of the regular 996.

As with earlier models, such as the legendary Carrera RS 2.7 of 1973 and the Type 964 911 RS of 1991, Porsche offered an RS version of the 997 GT3. In common with its predecessors, it provides a homologation model for use in a range of racing series.

Thanks to a close-ratio six-speed transmission with a single-mass flywheel and 20 kg (44 lb) lower vehicle weight, the engine revs up even more freely, thus enabling the 911 GT3 to sprint from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.0 seconds. That's one tenth of a second faster than the GT3. And it takes 13.3 seconds to hit 200 km/h (124 mph). Maximum speed is 310 km/h (187 mph).

One characteristic of the new RS is the body, which is 44 mm (1.7 in) wider at the rear (a legacy from the Carrera 4 models with which it shares its shell) by comparison with the 911 GT3. The muscular-looking rear end conceals a wider track that not only improves directional stability but also increases the potential cornering grip of the two-seater coupe. On the other hand, drag is increased, and top speed reduced.

Despite its specialized body, the RS is 20 kg (44 lb) lighter than the GT3, weighing in at 1375 kg (3031 lb). This weight-saving was achieved by the use, amongst other solutions, of an adjustable carbon fiber wing, the use of a plastic engine cover and a lightweight plastic rear window. As a consequence, the corresponding engine power to curb weight ratio is over 300 bhp (220 kW) per tonne.

In addition to the new technology featured in this flat six motor car, the paint scheme and body panels are all designed specially for this car. For the RS version, the limited edition orange color was mixed specially for this car.

For USA RS, no plastic rear window was installed, USA versions of the GT3 and RS have 911 fuel tank and not the larger Euro fuel tank.