Following its series debut last month, the latest generation Porsche 911 Cup car will be eligible to compete in the Porsche-exclusive ‘991’ class from the Hankook 12H HOCKENHEIMRING onwards in the 24H SERIES this season. 

A SpeedLover-entered example of the new Cup car based on the new ‘992’-generation Porsche 911 finished an impressive 8th overall and 2nd in-class on its maiden series outing at the Hankook 12H CIRCUIT PAUL RICARD. Gilles Smits and father-son duo Jean-Pierre and Jaxon Verhoeven were on driver detail, Smits crossing the line behind class winner Reiter Engineering after the Belgian team lost time to a number of punctures across Paul Ricard’s unforgiving kerbs. 

The non-homologated model was required to compete in the ‘special prototype’ GTX class at Circuit Paul Ricard. However, in an effort to further increase competition in the 991 class, CREVENTIC has now confirmed that all 992-gen Porsche 911s entered for Hockenheim are now eligible to compete in the ‘991’ class, albeit with an adjusted balance of performance quota.

Dubbed “stronger, faster and more spectacular” by Porsche itself, the new 911 GT3 Cup, unveiled last December, features more aggressive (yet aerodynamically-proficient) lightweight bodywork, a revised rear spoiler and a wider front track, all in a bid to create more stable handling. This new setup works in tandem with full electromechanical steering, equipped to a Porsche Cup car as standard for the very first time. 

Improvements have also been made in the cabin, including a new centre console-mounted instrument cluster derived from Porsche’s 919 Hybrid LMP1 car, and a new 10.3in digital information screen mounted in front of the driver. 

The 4-litre water-cooled flat-six is carried over from the outgoing model, but power has been increased by 25hp to 510hp and is now available at a higher revs. Torque remains unchanged at 347lb ft (470Nm). Significantly though, the increased power and the revised aerodynamics mean lap times at select circuits “should be slashed by a good one per cent,” a claim that has already yielded equivalent results. 

The fastest Porsche 991-II Cup during qualifying for the Hankook 12H CIRCUIT PAUL RICARD for example was that of Porsche Lorient Racing, which posted a 2m 09.349s around the 5.842km French Grand Prix circuit. A one per cent improvement theoretically drops that lap to 2m 08.056s. The SpeedLover 992, which started one place further up the grid, posted a 2m 08.280s in qualifying, just two-tenths shy of the theoretical one per cent gain. 

That the 992 will be eligible for 991 competition at Hockenheim is significant for another reason. At last year’s Hankook 16H HOCKENHEIMRING, a Porsche 911-II Cup took overall victory for the first time in 24H SERIES history.