Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid at the Nurburgring – Video

The Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid Nurburgring video below

Porsche have taken the 911 GT3 R Hybrid out for a test at the Nurburgring ahead of the 24hr Nurburgring race in May.

In February we reported that Porsche has developed the unthinkable – a hybrid 911. But this wasn’t a hybrid 911 with a bank of batteries and a fluffy-bunny conscience, but a rampant track 911 with a great big electro-magnetic flywheel and a KERS-like thump of an extra 160bhp – the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid.

The 911 GT3 R uses technology developed by Williams F1 and comprises of a pair of generators in the front wheels that shove energy to a composite flywheel (conveniently located next to the driver – not sure how well that would go down on a road0going version) which is the stored and can be thrown at the back wheels whenever the driver wants, in a way very similar to KERS.

To show the prowess of the GT3 R Porsche are running it in the Nurburgring 24hr next month and as a bit of a prep for that they’ve had the GT3 R out on the Nurburgring with Williams F1 driver Nico Hülkenberg at the wheel. It would seem Nico is not used to anything other than single seaters, but was quite taken with the GT3 R. he said:

This test was great fun. I’m impressed with how well the hybrid system works in the Porsche … This circuit is unique – you can’t compare it to any other track in the world. This is certainly not the last time I’ll drive here … Surprisingly, in the slow corners, the 911 is not far off a Formula 1 car. The mechanical grip is impressive.”

Worth a watch – particularly the second half.

Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid Nurburgring Video