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Porsche Takes Aim at Ferrari and Ford with its New-Generation 911 RSR

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The Porsche 911 RSR will compete for the company at Le Mans

While the second-generation Panamera sedan might have been the German vehicle to garner the most attention at the LA Auto Show, it’s another Porsche that’s expected to command everyone’s attention on the racetrack.

That vehicle is the new-generation Porsche 911 RSR and it’s the first 911 to feature a mid-engine layout. Advantages to this new design are improved weight distribution. In addition, this design allowed engineers to install a larger rear diffuser that works with a top-mounted rear wing to strengthen aerodynamics and downforce.

The Porsche 911 RSR is powered by a 4.0-liter naturally-aspirated flat-6 engine that can pump out 510 horsepower, but that figure can differ depending on how the engine is adjusted for each race. In contrast, the Ford GT and Ferrari 488 make use of turbocharged motors. Those two models also compete in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and World Endurance Championship alongside the Porsche 911 RSR.

Protecting the driver will be a new rigidly-mounted racing seat that’s perfectly positioned inside this 911’s advanced new safety cage concept. Furthermore, the new 911 RSR will feature a radar-supported collision warning system that can detect faster moving racecars even in the dark, which should help prevent accidents.

The new-generation Porsche 911 RSR is scheduled to make its competitive debut at the 2017 Rolex 24 at Daytona and engineers sound confident about the car’s performance potential.

“We’re very well prepared for this,” said Head of GT Works Sport Marco Ujhasi. “Since its first rollout in Weissach in March this year we’ve covered 35,000 test kilometres on racetracks in Europe and North America – that’s more than in the development of any other Porsche GT racer.”

The 2017 Rolex 24 at Daytona will take place January 28-29.

Video: The New Porsche 911 RSR

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