2010 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Race Car

2010 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Race Car

If a stripped down, minimalist, roll-cage equipped 450 horsepower race-car-for-the-street just isn't enough for you, well, Porsche has a car for that: the 911 GT3 Cup. Based around the same powertrain as the GT3 RS but with absolutely no compromises made for street use, the Cup car is an all-out racer.

Unlike many factory race cars, however, this car isn't limited to the factory teams. It's available for customer purchase, with private race teams and individual track enthusiasts able to buy the car and put it to its intended use - lapping at ten tenths.

So it's completely impractical and not really a consumer car at all - it is the essence of Porsche. Distilled down into a single, crystal idea, the purity of the GT3 Cup car is what inspires the rest of the range, as cushy and passenger-friendly as they may be.

Beyond the 450 horsepower engine the Cup shares with the RS, the race car trims weight to a mere 2,646 pounds and fits a sequential six-speed manual gearbox for quick-shifting performance. A 1.73-inch wider body allows for larger wheels and a widened track. The wheels are set of new 18x9-inch (front) and 18x9.5-inch three-piece alloys suited for all-out racing duty.

A race exhaust system - still with catalytic converter, however - allows for full power and a raucous sound, while Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes reduce unsprung weight, shaving the car's weight by 44 pounds in total, and provide massive fade resistance.

A fully adjustable suspension, including seven-position anti-roll bars, helps tune for each individual track, while the streeting wheel and data display offer a total of six user-customizable switches.

The new Porsche 911 GT3 Cup is available only in Carrera White and the first units will begin delivery in October. Base price: €149,850, or about $213,000.

[Porsche]