With so much of the news from manufacturers these days focused on software-defined vehicles, we could be forgiven for believing the era of grassroots engineering has long passed.
Thankfully it hasn't, and the same basic principles still apply to making cars go, stop, steer and hold the road, even if the backroom tools used to do that are more sophisticated.
The Porsche GT3 is still as much about old-school tuning and development as it is image. The latest 992 GT3 R was launched in 2023, and its suspension and aero have been further tweaked by Porsche Motorsport for 2026.
Using feedback from customer teams worldwide, the objective was to take handling and drivability up a notch, especially for amateur racers. As is typical at this level of performance, small changes can make a big difference.
At the front, the focus was on reducing dive during deceleration at high speeds, with a combination of aero and mechanical mods.
Louvres in the top of the wheel arches, combined with the design of the double-wishbone front suspension, counteract front-end compression during deceleration to control 'pitch sensitivity' the tendency of the car's nose to dip under braking. It makes the GT3 R more predictable under braking and easier to control.
Changes at the front of a racing car inevitably call for adjustments at the rear to keep things in balance.
The rear wing has a 4mm Gurney flap, a small, insignificant-looking tab that runs the width of the trailing edge of a wing, increasing downforce and further reducing pressure under the aerofoil section of the wing.
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