911 GT3 RS vs. GT3 Cup: Porsche's best street and track 996s?

[@stevenrance5320]

I raced a Mk2 996Cup in the UK back in 2007. At the same time I also owned a 996GT3 RS road car. Other than it being less visceral, I was surprised how very similar the driving experience was to the Cup car. Not ‘there’s some shared DNA here somewhere’, more like ‘these are essentially the car car’. It is a unique time in Porsche water cooled history where a factory road car and a race car almost overlapped. It will never be repeated. As an anecdote, during qualifying at Castle Combe race track, I buzzed the Cup engine to 10,900 rpm during a act of self preservation. The team replaced the clutch and I went on the win the race. After a leak down test we decided to run the engine for the rest of the season without a rebuilt due to budgetary constraints. The car went on to win another 9 races and achieved 4 more lap records for the remainder of the season. Not only did it hold together, it still made the same power. The Mezger engine really is an incredible unit. It was a privilege to drive both cars

[@saugmotor]

Thank you for sharing your experience

[@HadiTuppa]

The GT3 variant of the 996 had its engine based on the GT1 block IIRC….definitely a different beast to the “regular” Carrera… Absolutely yet another iconic car from the Porsche rennsport department!

[@Inazuma68]

I drive a 2004 GT3 Clubsport, took out the front part of the cage. It is much easier to get in and out and yes I have the holes in the carpet. It is such an underrated car, gives you so much on twisty roads. A friend of me is selling his yellow cup car right now for CHF 85‘000. By the way I didn‘t like the 996 when it was new but I think it aged pretty well and tell you something. That thing is a real weapon on German autobahn. Nothing else with around 400 hp goes like it above 250 kmh

[@PorscheClubofAmerica]

Thanks for sharing!

[@_ArsNova]

GT3 Cups will always be my favorite. Best Porsches are the ones that aren't street legal. Will never not miss the sound of PCA clubs races with all 996/997 GT3 Cups.

[@HadiTuppa]

I went to “unlimited” db track day at Donnington back in the late 2000s and had the pleasure of having my ears destroyed by a 996 RSR that was lapping. I have never heard a more savage sounding car in life and I’m saying that in a complimentary way. I’ll never forget the sound of that car!

[@996Revival]

What a great pair! I can only imagine how much fun they both are. Well done!

[@PorscheClubofAmerica]

Thanks for watching!

[@AnthonyTouset]

Riding along in the cup car at the end is just 🤌

[@MW-uy3np]

996 best gen. In years to come they will be one of the most expensive variants of the 911

[@porschenut9]

Always appreciate good 996 content. Thoroughly enjoyed it as a viewer. Just one correction, the 996 cup does not have the same uprights as the GT3RS. It shares them with the 996 GT3. The geometry was corrected on the RS as part of homologating the 996 RSR endurance race car. The GT3RS also has the same gearing as the GT3. The cup has a close ratio box with a shorter final drive than the road cars. Whilst it’s cool to see the RS, the true pairing of road car and race car in this instance would be the “regular” 996.2 GT3 and the 996.2 GT3 Cup.

[@sklyrovka]

exactly. there's so much misinformation in this video it boggles my mind.

[@acflavell]

Great video, especially as I contemplate a RHD 996 GT3RS here in NZ

[@owenoconnor2700]

Loved this video. Don’t forget the 996.1gt3 chapter of this story! Bob presents with fantastic timbre and knowledge, many thanks

[@PorscheClubofAmerica]

You're welcome!

[@kangzau1006]

I appreciate the PCA podcasts' attention to audible details, this example is just great sounding. You can hear the expert clearly and then when the engine gets going, you can hear that too.

[@PorscheClubofAmerica]

Thank you, we try to make an effort in these areas.

[@MW-uy3np]

Manny in the background throwing Bob bones. Great video guys

[@PorscheClubofAmerica]

Thanks for watching!

[@danb2145]

Great video! Strange when Bob talks into the camera and not to Manny 😅

[@stevetheodore_specialtycars]

What a sensational video on so many levels! Thank you for taking us through the important differences (and similarities) of these two amazing 911s. Although guys like me try to make our GT cars more track worthy while retaining some level of street-ability, this video serves as a great reminder of how a real race car does differ rather significantly from our street cars. What a fun and cool pairing of awesome Porsches! I do hope you can do the same thing with the 997 variants in a future video as those are the ones nearest and dearest to my own heart.

[@PorscheClubofAmerica]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@robvle]

This will be a timeless video for years to come along with great humans like Bob ❤

[@sklyrovka]

only timeless because of how many errors are in it. this should be deleted and filmed again by someone who knows something.

[@michaelgoodwin593]

thanks for letting these things sing for us. Incredible sound.

[@PorscheClubofAmerica]

Our pleasure!

[@RichardStrahota]

Very interesting video on these two cars. Guest is very knowledgeable about them. Is this the first 996 video ever done without using the words “fried egg?” 😊

[@filipdvl6776]

Only ignorant non-petrolheads still talk about that non issue😂 Mezger 996s are true hidden gems❤

[@ammaralfuzaia4933]

thank you very much for sharing your knowledge

[@PorscheClubofAmerica]

Our pleasure!

[@ZondaF355]

Loved this video! What special cars they are for those who know. Well presented by a guy that knows his stuff. Awesome seeing a Cup car hitting the street and getting a bit of exercise. Keep the special ones coming...997 GT2, 2RS from the same driver would be awesome

[@PorscheClubofAmerica]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@tayloraungst8569]

“3.6 mezger best version engine ever made by Porsche” -better than the 3.8 997.2 and 4.0 ?

[@rennstreetpodcast]

Love this!!❤

[@kkendler8570]

Great video! I really like this comparison. Is the cup car legal to be registered in most states?

[@Boxsterox]

Curious as to the legality of even a short test drive of a Cup car on the street. Any insurance concerns? I just sold my 996 Cup and am about to take delivery of a 991 Cup. These factory race cars are almost indescribably different from street cars. Nice video!

[@MW-uy3np]

You can’t drive a cup car on the street, legally. Disclaimer: I’m not a lawyer and this isn’t law advice.

[@sklyrovka]

@@MW-uy3np it is trivial to get tags on a Cup car. Stupid idea, but easy to do.

[@ericr.3759]

All 20 of the 911 GT RS were also delivered only in white.

[@jonasdande]

why is he looking at the camera instead of the interviewer?

[@maxboost259]

Bob should have been wearing an ascot, not a scarf

[@stephenauty2402]

Which 996's had aluminium hoods/bonnet ? apart from the Cup.

[@sklyrovka]

No 996 ever came with an aluminum hood. The decklid on the RS is still fiberglass -- only the wing is CF. neat video but I'm 4 minutes in and there's already so much wrong this "expert" has rattled off.

[@burtonporter8437]

I feel like he’s staring into my soul

[@MW-uy3np]

I need to weigh my early build 996 with factory gt3 buckets. I get its less than 2900 lbs. weight is everything in sports cars and porsche gets this

[@Jean-Paul_1984]

Rumor has it the early 996 from 1998 and 1999 with cable throttle are lighter than the 996.1 GT3 and even faster 0-60 due to less drag

[@JohnMoore-c8w]

Awesome !

[@PorscheClubofAmerica]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@jeffryrosen3438]

I feel bad that you are being forced to drive those cars for our viewing pleasure 🤣

[@PorscheClubofAmerica]

Someone has to do it :)

[@lklb8322]

Weightsavings adding horsepower... A real "expert"🤡🤡

[@mixxeerr]

Your camera work is horrible. The camera person was taking video of the speakers and not the car!!! For example, when he was talking about the custom carpet next to the roll cage, the camera just pin pointed on the speaker and didn't even bother to shift to the carpet.

[@porschenut9]

The carpet is not custom either. It’s simply 996 carpet that has been cut by the factory to accept the front portion of the cage. They ship the cars with a little plastic grommet to cover the cut out. My 996 GT3 Clubsport has the same carpet. They do a very nice job of it, however.

[@lambrosstamos4494]

So, the Cup car is street legal. Wonderful. With a proper helmet, please. To save my ears and my head.

[@PorscheClubofAmerica]

LOL

[@stephenauty2402]

Rebuild the engine after 50hrs!!! Really?? I mean 300hrs is nothing , it's not unusual for diesels to do 12000hrs + before needing anything at all? A car that's done 100k miles at say 40mph average is 2500hrs and lots of 996 turbos are dong 200k+ (very similar engine) which is 5000hrs+

[@carrerados]

300 hours is a lot of race time. Think about this. Top fuel dragsters rebuild after every 1/4 mile run! They rebuild to keep the car as competitive as the next guy.