Aerodynamics and design 911 GT3 Models

Duck away. Or full-on confrontation? Headwind is like any challenge. The best thing to do is face whatever is coming head-on. With no nonsense. Not blindly, of course, but with ingenuity.

The special challenge in the design of the new 911 GT3 RS: keeping the drag coefficient low and, at the same time, sustaining high downforce. For optimum tyre contact pressure, especially in the corners. Then there is the issue of fresh air, because the engine and brakes must not be allowed to overheat even under full load.

Optimum cooling is provided by large air intakes with titanium-coloured grilles incorporated in the front end. The extra air outlet ahead of the front lid increases flow through the centre radiator – and, by diverting the air flow, simultaneously reinforces aerodynamic downforce at the front axle.

The front spoiler lip is now even wider than the lip of the predecessor model, and downforce has been increased as a result. The sideskirts have also been further widened, a measure that has enlarged the overall surface area of the underbody – for another increase in downforce.

The louvres on the front wings combine striking aesthetics with high-level functionality. These eye-catching black slats of the wheel arch vents have the effect of reducing the overpressure generated by the turning wheels, thereby improving the downforce on the vehicle.

Typical of the 911 GT3 RS: two air intake openings for the engine, on the left and right in the rear side sections respectively.

The NACA air intakes on the CFRP front lid are new. These are used to supply air to the brakes and that's without negatively affecting the drag coefficient. Their shape was developed by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), the precursor to NASA. Space technology – for supreme performance in absolute proximity to the ground.

If we had just one word to describe the design language of the new 911 GT3 RS, then ‘squat’ would be the fitting attribute. If the word eluded us, however, then we’d make our point by showing you the rear end. Based on the wide body of the 911 Turbo, the rear end of the ‘RS’ explains in the clearest terms how it sits on the road: squat, assured and unshakeable.

Positioned right down by the tarmac are the two central tailpipes of the sports exhaust system. The rear silencer and tailpipes are made of titanium and are integral to the characteristic sound of the 911 GT3 RS.

The slimline tinted LED taillights visually reinforce the car’s wide appearance. The fixed rear wing in carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) produces tremendous downforce at the rear axle and helps to provide high driving stability even at top speed. The wing uprights painted in black are made of forged aluminium.

In short: optimum aerodynamics for the race track and an equally good drag coefficient for everywhere else. So no reason to duck away. Time to take the offensive.