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Porsche’s<br />
New Toy<br />
EXTREME PORSCHE<br />
911 RSR TO CHALLENGE<br />
IN GTE PRO<br />
<br />
WE SHOULD HAVE EXPECTED<br />
Porsche to do something off the<br />
wall when it announced it was taking a<br />
year’s sabbatical from the WEC after<br />
winning the 2015 GT drivers’ and<br />
manufacturers’ titles.<br />
The reason given for the time off was<br />
so Porsche could divert resources to a<br />
new car built to the GTE rule book introduced<br />
for the 2016 season. That focus<br />
on a new car has resulted in the midengined<br />
911 RSR, set to go head to<br />
head with Aston Martin, Ferrari and<br />
Ford in GTE Pro.<br />
You won’t actually get anyone at<br />
Porsche to use the term mid-engined<br />
when talking about the new machine. The<br />
German manufacturer does, however,<br />
admit the gearbox is on the back of the<br />
engine. It amounts to the same thing, but<br />
calling a 911 mid-engined is somehow<br />
sacrilegious.<br />
The rules have allowed the most extreme<br />
version of Porsche’s iconic sports<br />
car since the 911 GT1 and the 911 GT1<br />
Evos of 1996 and ’97—not counting the<br />
carbon-chassis 911 GT1-98 (It was a<br />
911 in name only). Shifting the engine position<br />
allows Porsche to exploit the aerodynamic<br />
freedoms the 2016 regulations<br />
allow. Witness the giant diffusers sticking<br />
out the back of the GTE cars last season.<br />
It should also allow Porsche to compete<br />
with more extreme breeds such as<br />
the Ford GT—the car that captured the<br />
GTE Pro class win at Le Mans in 2016.<br />
The new Porsche will debut at the<br />
Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona and also compete<br />
in the complete IMSA WeatherTech<br />
SportsCar Championship. The car will<br />
be part of a Porsche factory program in<br />
the WEC.<br />
-GARY WATKINS<br />
BOLD PREDICTION<br />
An LMP2 car<br />
finishes on the Le Mans<br />
podium. On the other<br />
hand, we predict only half<br />
a dozen P1 cars, at best.<br />
OUR PICKS<br />
<strong>2017</strong> LMP1 CHAMPIONS:<br />
Toyota wins Le Mans; Porsche<br />
wins the series championship.<br />
<strong>2017</strong> GTE PRO CHAMPION:<br />
U.K.-based Ganassi Ford<br />
TEAM ON THE RISE: Toyota’s LMP1<br />
benefits from <strong>2017</strong> revisions to the aero<br />
package that should reduce downforce.<br />
José María López<br />
NEXT BIG THING: Toyota’s José María<br />
López, who isn’t due for confirmation until<br />
early February, should make a big impact in<br />
the WEC.<br />
LAT PHOTOGRAPHIC (2)<br />
The new 911 RSR is<br />
ready to take on the big<br />
boys in GTE Pro.<br />
WEC SCHEDULE<br />
SUNDAY, APRIL 16<br />
SATURDAY, MAY 6<br />
SATURDAY, JUNE 17<br />
SUNDAY, JULY 16<br />
SUNDAY, SEPT. 3<br />
SATURDAY, SEPT. 16<br />
SUNDAY, OCT. 15<br />
SUNDAY, NOV. 5<br />
SATURDAY, NOV. 18<br />
Great Britain<br />
Belgium<br />
Le Mans, France<br />
Germany<br />
Mexico<br />
Austin, TX<br />
Japan<br />
China<br />
Bahrain<br />
For more racing previews, including<br />
further bold predictions and preseason<br />
news, along with race coverage during the<br />
season, go to autoweek.com/racing and<br />
follow us on Twitter @<strong>Autoweek</strong>USA.<br />
JANUARY <strong>23</strong>, <strong>2017</strong> AUTOWEEK 31
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