Porsche’s new 911 GT3 R race car will have its first competitive test outing later this month on the Nürburgring Nordschleife.

The latest 911 racer will contest round 9 of the VLN long distance championship on 17 October, with the event to serve as the first endurance run for the new car’s suspension and brakes.

The car will run, however, with the well-proven powerplant of the previous model because the new direct fuel injection engine is not yet available. The 500+hp 4.0 liter flat-six unit is currently undergoing test bench runs in Weissach and further testing in the United States.

The first outing of the new Porsche Motorsport customer racer under competition conditions will also serve as a trial for the suspension and body components. Furthermore, the race and development squad Manthey Racing will have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the handling of the vehicle at an early stage.

“It has always proved beneficial to take a new car racing at an early development stage. The demands of the Nürburgring Nordschleife offer the best conditions for this,” says Head of Porsche Motorsport Dr. Frank-Steffen Walliser.

“While our new engine is undergoing tests in the USA under warm conditions, we are also conducting trials on the suspension and body components at the Nurburgring-Nordschleife with its uniquely undulating topography,” the executive added.

PHOTO GALLERY