Fully Loaded

While the performance of the 2004 24 Hours of Le Mans and 2005 12 Hours of Sebring GT2-winning Porsche is mind-boggling, even more remarkable is how closely it matches the 2004 Porsche 911 GT3 on which it is based. The options list on the average Porsche 911 is impressive with leather seating, CD-player, six-speed transmission, 17” wheels, air conditioning, cup holders, power seats and power windows. By comparison, the average person might find the No. 31 Petersen/ White Lightning Porsche 911 GT3 RSR rather Spartan. With no carpet or even center console, and Nomex in place of leather surfaces, the stark interior is obviously even more purposeful in its design than the driver-oriented streetcar. However, some driver comforts still exist. The racing Porsche enjoys a full sequential six-speed gearbox that allows fast, precise shifts that cut tenths of seconds off lap times. Jörg Bergmeister and Patrick Long to slice time from the lap charts also utilize a traction control system-, which helped pioneer the street unit-. Putting the power down to the Road America pavement are the Michelin Pilot SX racing slicks mounted on massive 18” BBS wheels controlled by highly tuneable KW Shocks.

                                                                                              

While Bergmeister has to manually push the OMP seat back to its full reach when switching driving duties with Long, instead of pushing the power seat button, other driver comforts still exist. With temperatures exceeding 150-degrees inside the cockpit and the Plexiglas windows remaining affixed in the doors, the drivers need every bit of cool air they can get. However, in place of the factory-installed air conditioning are two tubes that direct airflow at the drivers’ body while a cool-suit system pumps cold water through capillaries on a vest that each driver wears. Like the AC in the 996- and now 997- chassis- that the No. 31 is based on, the system has a dash-mounted knob that controls the amount of the cold water that is pumped from a carbon fiber ice chest that sits where the passenger seat would normally be to the vest under the drivers’ three-layer Nomex Stand 21 fire suit. Both drivers also enjoy a built-in drink bottle system that allows a cool swallow throughout their stint… without removing their hands from the wheel.

The CD player may have been ripped from the dash- though the speaker grates remain- when Porsche Motorsports pulled the chassis from the assembly line to create the Petersen/ White Lightning RSR, but in its place exists a top-flight Racing Radio’s Motorola two-way radio for car-to-pit communications. And, like the streetcar, a steering wheel mounted button controls the radio.

                
                                                            

Petersen motorsports/ White lightning racing the car – 2004 /2005 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR stats

Vin Number
WPOZZZ99Z4S693066

Engine
3,598 cc water-cooled six-cylinder boxer engine in rear, four valves per cylinder
stroke: 76.4 mm, bore: 99,99 mm
hp: 445 hp (327 kW) at 8,250 rpm*
torque: 405 Nm at 7,200 rpm
redline: 8,500 rpm
intake: plastic intake manifold with two air restrictors
sequential fuel injection (Bosch)
fuel: superplus Unleaded, 98 ROZ
materials: Titanium valves (ACO) and connecting rods
lubrication: dry-sump system with water-oil heat-exchanger
electronics: Bosch MS 3.1 electronic engine management system with knock control up-dated with new Porsche ECU control unit in 2005

Power train
straight-toothed dog-type constant mesh countershaft sequential gearbox
drive: rear-wheel drive
clutch type: racing clutch
differential: limited slip differential 40/60 percent
cooling: oil-water heat-exchanger

Suspension
front: McPherson front axle
rear: multilink rear suspension
anti-roll bars: adjustable anti-roll bars front and rear
springs: double coil springs all round, adjustable in four positions
shocks: SACHS, adjustable ride height, compression, rebound
adjustments: height, camber and track continuously variable adjustable

Wheels
BBS central locking (Splint safety lock system)
front: 10J x 18 ET 15
rear: 11H x 18 ET 16

Steering
electric power steering

Tires
Michelin Pilot SX racing slicks
front: 24/64-18
rear: 27/68-18

Brakes
power distribution with brake balance adjustment
front: 380 mm, 32 mm thick, 4 fixed aluminium callipers
rear: 355 mm, 32mm thick, 4 fixed aluminium callipers

Body
chassis: weight optimised, widened 911 GT3 RS chassis
composites: Carbon Kevlar front section and spoiler, rear section, luggage compartment, hood, rear lid with wing, front mudguard, rear mudguard extension, doors with windows and frames, rear window
aero: optimized front, rear, side sills, adjustable rear wing
air jack system

Safety
Racing bucket seat with six-point seat belt, adapted for HANS use
Fire extinguishing system
Welded-in roll cage
100-litre safety tank, quick refuelling system

Weight
1,115 kilograms (ACO version with flat underbody and diffuser)