The all-new 2023 Porsche 911 GT3 RS has achieved a new benchmark at the famous German race circuit at the hands of Jörg Bergmeister

The recently revealed 2023 Porsche 911 GT3 RS has set a new record at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, the notorious racing circuit in Germany that doubles as the go-to proving ground for high-performance sports cars. Master test driver Jörg Bergmeister strung together a time of 6:49.328 in a 911 GT3 RS equipped with the Weissach package and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tyres, both of which are available as options on customer cars.

Porsche notes that the car completed the shorter, previous-standard Nurburgring lap in 6:44.848, which puts the 911 GT3 RS just behind the Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series (6:43.616) and Porsche 911 GT2 RS MR (6:38.835) on a like-for-like basis. The standard GT3 completed the longer, new-standard lap in 6:59.927 in 2020, putting the new model over 10 seconds ahead.

The latest 911 GT3 RS’s aggressive aerodynamics and improved braking paid dividends in Porsche’s quest for a new record. “In the fast sections in particular, the 911 GT3 RS is in a league of its own,” Jörg Bergmeister noted. “Here it’s on a level usually reserved for top-class racing cars. The car is also setting new standards in braking. Fast laps on the Nordschleife are simply so much fun in this car.”

“Today the 911 GT3 RS delivered what it had already promised at first glance – absolute excellence on the racetrack,” said Andreas Preuninger, boss of Porsche’s GT car division. “Considering the far from ideal conditions, with a strong headwind on the long straight of the Döttinger Höhe and cool asphalt temperatures, we are satisfied with this time. The 911 GT3 RS is setting new standards for aerodynamics and the chassis. Never before has a road car embodied so much motorsport.”

2023 Porsche 911 GT3 RS overview

The new 2023 Porsche 911 GT3 RS was revealed in full in August 2022 as the brand’s most hardcore and track-orientated production model. With wild aerodynamic additions, weight-saving measures and various mechanical upgrades, the new car is set to offer the ultimate experience for keen drivers, with improvements in responsiveness, grip and lap-times. Prices for the 2023 Porsche 911 GT3 RS start at £178,500.

The new car is the successor to the 991-generation 911 GT3 RS, which offered a 4.0-litre unit in place of the standard car’s 3.8. This engine became standard in the non-RS GT3 for the 991.2 facelift in 2017, and then continued into the current-generation 911 GT3. It’s used here again, albeit with a power increase to 525hp thanks to new cam profiles. Its motorsport influences include a single-throttle intake system, rigid valve drive, and a new single, large radiator in place of the 911’s usual trio of smaller items. This last feature, Porsche says, was first used in the Le Mans class winner 911 RSR and later 911 GT3 R racers. Owners lose the 911’s front luggage area for the privilege, however.

The lack of a luggage compartment has also freed up space for a pair of continuously adjustable active aero wing elements on the bonnet; in combination with the rest of the car’s considerable aerodynamic additions, the result is 409kg of downforce at 124mph. That figure is twice that of its predecessor and three times that of the standard 911 GT3, Porsche says. Incredibly, total downforce at the car’s 177mph top speed is 860kg.

It’s hard not to believe Porsche’s claims given the sheer scale of the 2023 Porsche 911 GTS RS’ swan-neck rear wing, which extends above the car’s roofline for the first time on a Porsche production car. The wing features a hydraulically operated element that can contribute towards DRS or air-braking in conjunction with the active aero parts at the front of the car.

These active aero systems are supported by a front splitter, pronounced sideblades, wheelarch vents, Le Mans inspired inlets behind the front wheels, plus roof fins that divert hot air from the radiator away from the car’s rear engine intakes. A rear diffuser also features.

Carbon fibre feaures throughout the car’s construction to bring weight down to 1450kg including 90% fuel and all fluids. Lightweight forged centre-lock wheels are standard but can be upgraded to magnesium items as part of the Weissach pack, which also brings a host of bare carbon-weave parts including a carbon roll cage.

Three driving modes are offered to make the most of the 911 GT3 RS’ performance: Normal, Sport and Track, with the latter allowing for individual adjustment of basic settings. Adjustable settings include rebound and compression for front and rear axles, as well as differential strength. These settings and others are adjustable via four motorsport-inspired rotary dials on the steering wheel, used in conjunction with the car’s digital instruments.

Suspension and brake upgrades are also included: the 2023 Porsche 911 GT3 RS features aerodynamic wishbone arms to increase downforce, while its brake system comprises six-piston calipers and 408mm discs on the front axle and a four-piston, 380mm setup on the rear. Optional Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB) are offered, which bring 410mm and 390mm discs fore and aft.

The new Porsche 911 GT3 RS joins the 911 GT3 and 911 GT3 Touring at the upper end of the expansive 911 range. It also follows on from the brand’s most recent all-out track special, the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS, which shares its engine with the 911 GT3.