There has been a good deal of speculation as to what the 2017 Porsche RSR replacement will look like. There have been rumours doing the rounds that the engine might be based on the new Turbo generation powerplant, but understandably Porsche are keeping details scant. There was also the suggestion that the engine had been moved further forward in the chassis to improve weight distribution, but when questioned on this at Silverstone a few weeks ago, Dr. Frank-Steffen Walliser smiled politely, and remained tight-lipped.
In April, Walliser confirmed that progress on the development of the new 911 GTE/GTLM was bang on schedule, and the new car would soon be entering its test phase. In fact, Porsche has just announced that the new car has already completed a successful rollout on the test track in Weissach, and a test programme on selected racetracks around the world would soon commence.
At its first test runs at Weissach, the majority of the Porsche works drivers were able to get a first impression of the new 2017 GTE race car. “It is definitely unusual to put several drivers behind the wheel at a rollout,” said Marco Ujhasi, Overall Project Manager GT Works Motorsport. “But since all of our works drivers are involved in the development of the new car, the ones who could fit it into their schedules came to Weissach and turned a couple of laps.”
The first outing of the RSR successor is planned for January 2017 at the 24-hour race at Daytona. “The race debut of a completely new vehicle at a 24-hour race is a big challenge. But we are right on schedule,” explains the Head of Porsche Motorsport, Dr Frank-Steffen Walliser.
We will keep our ear to the ground and bring you further updates as they are released by the factory. In the meantime, Porsche has released a batch of four images showing the car, but all the images are taken from a low angle head on, thereby shielding any revealing curves or shapes as to the car’s profile, lateral air intakes or rear layout. We shall have to wait and see…
Written by: Glen Smale
Why no pics of the rear end of the car?….scared of something?….like Ferrari continuing to kick Porsche ass in GT-PRO?
Porsche is just keeping their cards close to their chest until they are ready to reveal further details of the car. I think that this car is the one that will be doing a bit of kicking when it is launched! What Porsche are not ready to show you yet, are the side profile and rear shots because this will tell you the engine type and position of the engine. I am sure all will be revealed soon. 🙂