Technically, that is. Yesterday Porsche announced that the 2013 version of the 911 GT3 Cup race car will be virtually unchanged from the current model.
At the same time that the new, seventh generation Porsche 911 (type 991) is arriving at Porsche dealerships nationwide, Porsche Motorsports North America President Jens Walther told Porsche racing customers that the 2013 Cup cars (based on the 997 platform) will continue virtually unchanged from this year’s model.
“As with previous models of the 911 GT3 Cup cars, it takes some two years for the race car design to be completed based on a new street car, so we anticipate the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (type 997) to be the racing platform through at least the 2013 racing season. Meanwhile, we have a limited number of 2012 Cup cars and will have a limited number of 2013 Cup cars that have no specification changes,” said Walther, who pointed out that the Cup car has remained essentially the same since 2010.
Where is the the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Car Raced
The Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car is the defending Rolex Grand-Am GT champion, as well as the defending SCCA Pirelli World Champion title-holder and the SCCA GT2 Club Racing National Champion, and the spec car for the American Le Mans Series GT Challenge, the International Motor Sports Association GT3 Challenge by Yokohama, and the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge Canada. Cup cars are also popular in Porsche Owners Club and Porsche Club of America racing series.
“The whole Porsche family is excited about the new Porsche 911 (type 991) street car, but there is so much more to be accomplished in 2012 and 2013 with the current 911 GT3 Cup (type 997),” said Walther.
Since its introduction in 1989, the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup has shown to be both fast and reliable, maintaining its value as it races in different countries in different classes. In last week’s Rolex 24, there were 23 Cup cars that started the race, with 2006 to 2012 models, each made competitive by the upgrades allowed by the sanctioning body and made available by PMNA.
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