New Porsche 911 GT3 R Set for Crucial Endurance Test at Spa-Francorchamps
While the immensely successful Porsche 911 GT3 R continues its worldwide pursuit of victory throughout the 2025 season, Porsche has already primed its successor for action. This weekend, the development programme for the forthcoming customer racing model, based on the current GT3 race car, advances under competitive conditions at Belgium’s legendary Spa-Francorchamps circuit on 19–20 April, in partnership with Herberth Motorsport.
The Creventic 24h Series will host a split-format endurance race branded as the “Michelin 12h Spa-Francorchamps” on Saturday and Sunday. Following practice, testing, and qualifying sessions, the event will commence on 19 April with five hours of racing before continuing the next day with the final seven hours. The No. 91 test car – an updated Porsche 911 GT3 R – will be driven by former Porsche Junior and current IMSA GTD Pro Champion Laurin Heinrich from Germany, alongside his compatriots Ralf Bohn and Alfred Renauer. Both drivers and Herberth Motorsport bring extensive endurance racing experience to this crucial test outing.
“The Creventic Series provides the ideal setting for such an important test,” states Sebastian Golz, Project Manager Porsche 911 GT3 R. “Privateer teams compete at a high standard, there is ample track time, and Spa-Francorchamps is an immense challenge for drivers and machines alike. As a longstanding Porsche customer team, Herberth Motorsport offers invaluable insights into vehicle handling, serviceability, ergonomics, and operational features. We are also keen to hear the drivers’ feedback.”
Porsche’s engineers have significantly refined the current Porsche 911 GT3 R to improve driveability for the 2026 racing season, with the official unveiling planned for the summer. Aerodynamic adjustments aim to reduce pitch sensitivity, delivering more balanced front-end performance under braking and acceleration. Additional improvements include software upgrades and an overhauled steering system developed at Weissach. Porsche will reveal further technical details later.
This advanced GT3 contender follows in the tyre tracks of a proven champion. Since its introduction in 2023, the existing Porsche 911 GT3 R has achieved numerous notable victories, including the LMGT3 class win at the Le Mans 24 Hours, the FIA Endurance Trophy in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), a sweep of the GTD Pro titles in North America’s IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Porsche’s maiden DTM title, and the manufacturer’s crown in the Intercontinental GT Challenge. Most recently, Porsche customer team AO Racing steered the up to 416 kW (565 PS) machine to a GTD Pro class triumph at the 12 Hours of Sebring in the United States.
