Porsche GT3 Hybrid To Be Unveiled In
Geneva
It has been announced that Porsche will
reveal their new hybrid version of the Porsche 997 GT3 race car at
the Geneva Motor Show which takes place between the 4th
and 14th March 2010.
The Porsche 997 GT3 R Hybrid racer is an
impressive beast and features hybrid technology specially developed
for racing. As well as boasting 480 bhp, the car has a unique
electric front axle drive system that incorporates two 60kW motors
which add a hybrid boost to its already powerful 353kW flat six 4
litre engine.
Unlike current hybrid road cars such as the
Toyota Prius – recently recalled due to braking difficulties, the
GT3 Hybrid doesn’t use electric batteries but instead incorporates
an electric flywheel generator which makes the car lighter.
The flywheel generator produces a speedy 40,000 revs per minute and
is automatically charged and kinetic energy stored whenever the
driver brakes. The stored energy then provides a hybrid boost to
the Porsche’s performance when accelerating or overtaking as well
as saving fuel that would normally be used for these manoeuvres. By
storing kinetic energy in the two 60kW front axle motors and then
having the ability to release it as a combined 120kW power boost,
Porsche’s developers believe that the weight of onboard fuel and
the number of pit stops required during a race will be reduced.
Time will tell whether this theory and the hybrid technology will
give Porsche the upper hand in upcoming races but we certainly hope
it does.
The 80th International Motor
Show in Geneva Switzerland this Month is expected to be the first
time the impressive sounding Porsche GT3 Hybrid will be seen in the
flesh by the public. After this, it will then be given thorough
testing in race conditions at the 24 hour Nurburgring endurance
race in Nurburg Germany on the 15th and 16th
May.
Porsche have won the race the past four
consecutive years so the Porsche Hybrid has a lot to live up to.
Let’s hope it’s yet another winning race year at the 24 hour
Nurburgring for Porsche in 2010!