The
new Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid
Exactly 110 years after Ferdinand Porsche developed the world’s first
car with hybrid drive, the Lohner Porsche Semper Vivus, Dr. Ing. h.c.
F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, is once again taking up this visionary drive
concept in production-based GT racing: During the Geneva Motor Show, a
Porsche 911 GT3 R with innovative hybrid drive is making its debut,
opening up a new chapter in the history of Porsche with more than
20,000 wins in 45 years scored by the extremely successful Porsche 911
in racing trim.
The innovative hybrid technology featured in the car has been developed
especially for racing, standing out significantly in its configuration
and components from conventional hybrid systems. In this case,
electrical front axle drive with two electric motors developing 60 kW
each supplements the 480-bhp four-litre flat-six at the rear of the 911
GT3 R Hybrid. A further significant point is that instead of the usual
batteries in a hybrid road car, an electrical flywheel power generator
fitted in the interior next to the driver delivers energy to the
electric motors.
The flywheel generator itself is an electric motor with its rotor
spinning at speeds of up to 40,000 rpm, storing energy mechanically as
rotation energy. The flywheel generator is charged whenever the driver
applies the brakes, with the two electric motors reversing their
function on the front axle and acting themselves as generators. Then,
whenever necessary, that is when accelerating out of a bend or when
overtaking, the driver is able to call up extra energy from the charged
flywheel generator, the flywheel being slowed down electromagnetically
in the generator mode and thus supplying up to 120 kW to the two
electric motors at the front from its kinetic energy. This additional
power is available to the driver after each charge process for
approximately 6 - 8 seconds.
Energy formerly converted – and thus wasted – into heat upon every
application of the brakes, is now highly efficiently converted into
additional drive power.
Depending on racing conditions,
hybrid drive is used in this case not only for extra power, but also to
save fuel. This again increases the efficiency and, accordingly, the
performance of the 911 GT3 R Hybrid, for example by reducing the weight
of the tank or making pitstops less frequent.
After its debut in Geneva the
911 GT3 R Hybrid will be tested in long-distance races on the
Nürburgring. The highlight of this test programme will be the 24
Hours on the Nordschleife of Nürburgring on May 15th and 16th. The
focus is not on the 911 GT3 R Hybrid winning the race, but rather
serving as a spearhead in technology and a “racing laboratory”
providing know-how on the subsequent use of hybrid technology in
road-going sports cars.
The 911 GT3 R Hybrid is a
perfect example of the Porsche Intelligent Performance philosophy, a
principle to be found in every Porsche: More power on less fuel, more
efficiency and lower CO2 emissions – on the track and on the road.
Formula 1 pilot Nico Hülkenberg makes
successful Nordschleife debut
The Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid has passed its most unusual task by now
with flying colours in preparation for the Nürburgring 24 hour
race on 15/16 May: AT&T Williams Formula 1 pilot Nico
Hülkenberg tested the orange and white liveried racing 911 on the
Nürburgring Nordschleife in the lead up to the third round of the
VLN Long Distance Championship and was enthusiastic with many aspects:
“Great car, fascinating technology and an incomparable track,”
concluded Hülkenberg.
The Formula 1 pilot turned
three laps at his Nordschleife debut in a race car and was able to get
an idea of the perfect interplay of all the hybrid system components.
“This test was great fun. I’m impressed with how well the hybrid system
works in the Porsche,” said Hülkenberg. One of the components of
the hybrid system, the flywheel generator installed inside the cockpit,
was designed and manufactured by Williams Hybrid Power following
Porsche’s specifications.
“This circuit is unique – you
can’t compare it to any other track in the world. This is certainly not
the last time I’ll drive here,” said Hülkenberg, who has driven
only single-seaters on the race circuit. “Surprisingly, in the slow
corners, the 911 is not far off a Formula 1 car. The mechanical grip is
impressive.”
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The new Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid also gave a promising debut at the
Nürburgring Long Distance Championship:
Porsche works drivers Joerg Bergmeister (Germany), Richard Lietz and
the former Porsche Junior Martin Ragginger (both Austria) brought home
the white/orange racer with its combustion engine supplemented by two
electric motors delivering 60 kW each to the front axle in sixth place
after a trouble-free race. “I’m positively surprised how well this car
performed already at its first race,” said Bergmeister. “We tried many
things out during the race and will be busy further developing the
hybrid drive for the 24 hour race in May. Our aim is to use less fuel
than our competitors without compromising performance,” explains Lietz
(Below) 911 GT3 R Hybrid, Porsche Team
Manthey: Richard Lietz, Jörg Bergmeister, Martin Ragginger
In the 911 GT3 Hybrid,
two electric motors at the front axle developing 60 kW (82 hp) each
supplement the 353 kilowatt (480 hp) four-litre flat-six at the rear.
Instead of the batteries used in hybrid road cars, an electrical
flywheel power generator fitted in the cockpit beside the driver
delivers energy to the electric motors. Compared to a battery, the
flywheel generator has the advantage of storing and delivering high
amounts of energy considerably quicker.
Thanks to its sophisticated
electronic control, the innovative hybrid drive of the 911 GT3 R Hybrid
automatically provides optimal efficiency at racing speed. The
combination of the combustion engine and electric motors fulfils a
simple objective: Less fuel consumption without compromising
performance. When overtaking or accelerating out of a bend, the driver
can manually override the controls by pressing the boost paddle on the
steering wheel and sending energy from the charged flywheel generator
to the front axle. This additional power of 120 kilowatts is available
to the driver after each charge process for approximately six to eight
seconds.
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