The new DLC for RaceRoom called Porsche Pack will debut on Thursday 20th July. With three cars we are yet to know what price has, but seems a nice piece of software with different cars to allow everybody to enjoy on track. One of the most awaited is the latest 911 GT3 Cup: 992 model.
Faster, fitter, stronger: these words sum up the latest 992-shape version of Porsche’s incredibly popular 911 GT3 Cup, which is one of a trio of cars starring in our new 2023 Porsche racing pack that’s due for release in two weeks time. It’s the seventh-generation 911 Cup weapon and incorporates revolutionary changes into what’s been an evolutionary range of race cars – but without going against the fundamental principle of being, at its heart, a stripped-back road-car. Luckily, Porsche have a very fast, very efficient road-car to start with…
The story started back in 1990, with the launch of the original 964 Carrera Cup – the first season was won by a certain Olaf Manthey – and since then the Carrera Cup has become a breeding ground for future champions and factory driver talent just as much as a place where weekend racers get to truly test themselves against the pros. There are now 34 official series around the world, including the halo Supercup that supports Formula 1.
The Carrera Cup is the ultimate one-make challenge: a truly level playing field where the driver makes the difference, using a purist’s racing car that encourages you to push to your limit.
Porsche have now sold over 5,000 Cup cars since 1990, and incredibly they’re still constructed on the regular 911 production line: it’s basically just a build option! The road-legal GT3 and GT3 Cup racecar share many technical components, and the six-cylinder, four-litre boxer engine is virtually identical, with the addition of a racing exhaust and an optimised ECU. The power output is the same, at 510PS, so the expectation is that the engine doesn’t need serious servicing for an entire season of racing! And it runs on synthetic fuels. The GT3 Cup uses a widened body from the 911 Turbo model, with an adjustable lip spoiler and 11-point rear wing on swan-neck mounts.
The new 992-shape GT3 Cup is a huge step forwards compared to the previous generation. It’s much closer to the new GT3 R in behaviour, and in fact it’s now much more advanced than the GT3 R of only a few generations back. Its double-wishbone front axle means the toe at the front is wider than the rear for the first time. Aesthetically, it’s also just as aggressive as the GT3 R: squint and they’re tough to tell apart, which could be useful if you’re harrying a slower GT3 in a mixed-class race!
There’s still no ABS in Cup spec, so a good braking technique is paramount, and no traction control means having to finesse with your right foot. However, owners who wish to race it in other series can opt to have the addition of Porsche Motorsport’s factory-prepared ABS and Traction Control systems. This is the spec that’s used in events such as the 24H Series or NLS, and we’ve created this option with the Endurance-spec GT3 Cup car that’s also included in this pack.
Using the standard 911 GT3 Cup model, we’re proudly presenting the official grid of the 2023 Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland, with over 30 authentic liveries. Then with the Endurance-spec car, with ABS and TC active, you’ll get another batch liveries from global endurance series; this car will be perfect to add into multi-class races to deliver the range of performances on track that’s the core of GT endurance racing.
Adding the latest 992-shape Cup car to RaceRoom further bolsters our Porsche Carrera Cup content: you can already experience the 964 and 991 models in the game. It’s a fantastic car to drive: challenging but rewarding, and it sits towards the top of the performance envelope:. It’s a car to build up to, and will take some effort to get the best out of, particularly in the raw Cup spec with no driver aids. But that’s also where the enjoyment will come: whether you’re pounding round a track on your own, refining your performance and set-up, or going straight into racing, the 911 GT3 Cup will deliver you a proper racing experience.
RaceRoom’s 2023 Porsche racing pack is due to launch on July 20th, and later in the week we’ll be previewing the third car in the pack: the mighty GT3 R.
