Exactly 110 years after Ferdinand Porsche developed the world’s first car with hybrid drive – the Lohner Porsche Semper Vivus – the new GT3 R Hybrid brings innovative hybrid technology developed especially for racing.
In this case, electric front-axle drive with two electric motors each developing 60 kW supplements the 353kW four-litre flat-six engine at the rear of the 911 GT3 R Hybrid.
Significantly, instead of the usual batteries in a hybrid road car, an electrical flywheel generator positioned next to the driver delivers energy to the electric motors. The flywheel generator itself is an electric motor with its rotor spinning at speeds of up to 40,000 rpm, storing energy mechanically as rotation energy.
The flywheel generator is charged whenever the driver applies the brakes, with the two electric motors reversing their function on the front axle and acting themselves as generators.
The driver can then use this kinetic energy as a power boost when accelerating out of corners or when overtaking. The extra 120kW of power is available for approximately six to eight seconds after each charge process.
After its debut in Geneva the 911 GT3 R Hybrid will be tested in long-distance races on the Nürburgring.
