Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

It’s going to be a busy Frankfurt for Porsche. The German motor show takes place next month, and the country’s key performance car company is putting its all into making it a good one.

Fresh from announcing the updated 997 versions of the 911 Turbo and GT3 RS for a home-turf reveal, the brand has unveiled this, the 911 GT3 Cup. It’s the racing version of Porsche’s most extreme sports car, being based on the GT3 RS for the first time.

Weight is down to 1200kg, a significant cut over the road car, which is no heavyweight in the first place. Its new 444bhp 3.8-litre six-cylinder engine makes an appearance in the Cup and comes mated to a sequential six-speed manual gearbox.

There are a number of tweaks to turn the RS into a racer, with bigger wheels accommodated by a 44mm wider rear, and a lower front splitter and wider rear wing to vastly improve downforce. Ceramic composite brakes are standard while there’s also a special exhaust system that offers a ‘more dynamic and muscular sound’. We like.

The 911 GT3 Cup will compete in seven different championships, including the Porsche Carrera Cup. If you want to compete in one, the car will kick off at 149,850 euros (excluding tax), the equivalent of £132K.

Deliveries start in October, a month after the Cup’s big reveal at the Frankfurt motor show, which opens on September 15. We will be there with full live coverage – keep an eye on our preview page for the latest.Follow evo Magazine on Twitter for the performance car latest