Porsche has introduced two new 911 race cars for the 2026 season: an updated 911 GT3 R and a brand-new 911 Cup. Both cars are designed to deliver better performance and handling on the track, and they will compete in racing series across North America, Germany, Asia, and the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup.
What’s New with the Porsche 911 GT3 R
The latest 911 GT3 R builds on the current model with several improvements. Porsche added louvered ducts on top of the front wheel arches, which work with the double wishbone front suspension to improve aerodynamics and make the car more stable when braking. The car also has better cooling for the power-steering system and a more adjustable rear brake cooling system, which helps during heavy braking.
For the driver, Porsche improved the air vent for better airflow inside the cabin. The underbody is now fully enclosed, and a new rear axle design helps the car stay level during hard acceleration. The rear spoiler now has a 4-millimeter Gurney flap, giving teams more options for aerodynamic tuning.
Some features that were optional before—like the pit lane link, camera, and sensor packages—now come standard. Teams can still choose special equipment for certain races, like IMSA events.
The 911 GT3 R uses a 4.2-liter flat-six engine with 557 horsepower. While the engine hasn’t changed, the new cooling and balance tweaks should make the car easier to drive and keep it running at the right temperature.
What’s New with the Porsche 911 Cup
The new 911 Cup is based on the latest 992.2-generation 911 and is built for Porsche’s one-make racing series. The car has a new front end that looks like the current 911 GT3, and Porsche removed the daytime running lights to protect the radiators in case of a crash.
Aerodynamics are better, thanks to louvered vents in the fenders and new vanes behind the front wheels. The rear wing’s supports have been redesigned for easier adjustments. The front brakes are now bigger, with larger ventilation channels and a bigger brake fluid reservoir, which helps during long races.
Inside, the driver gets a multi-function steering wheel with color-lit buttons, extra foam padding for safety, and a simpler control panel with eight switches instead of ten. Teams can now adjust car settings directly from a menu page, without needing a laptop.
The 911 Cup uses a 4.0-liter flat-six engine with 512 horsepower and a six-speed sequential gearbox. Teams can pick from three exhaust systems, depending on noise rules. Porsche also added an automatic restart feature, so the engine starts up again if the driver stalls and presses the clutch.
The new 911 Cup will be sold only by Porsche Motorsport North America. Prices haven’t been announced, but these race cars usually cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Racing a Porsche is never cheap, but it’s always exciting.
