Updated Porsche 911 Cup to Debut in 2026

Porsche has unveiled the latest version of its single-make racing platform, with the newly named 911 Cup set to make its racing debut in 2026.

Based off the Type-992.2, the 911 Cup is eligible for competition in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, various Carrera Cup championships and other Porsche-sanctioned series.

Notably, the new car is no longer called the 911 GT3 Cup like its predecessors, which comes as the result of a decision by Porsche to ‘streamline and standardize’ the naming of its customer racing vehicles.

This means that, moving forward, only cars intended for open-brand racing series or specific segments will receive the ‘GT’ designation along with a number, like with the new 911 GT3 R Evo that was also unveiled on Friday.

Priced at €269,000 excluding VAT, the 911 Cup is more powerful than its predecessor. The 4.0-liter boxer engine remains based on the unit found in the 911 GT3 road car, but now delivers 382 kW (512 horsepower) in race trim.

Porsche engineers have incorporated additional components from the road car into the design, including flow-optimised individual throttle valves and camshafts with extended valve opening times.

Notably, this eliminates the need for a centrally positioned throttle valve, which in turn allows for the installation of an air restrictor.

Despite the increased power, the engine service life remains unchanged, only needing an overhaul after 100 hours of track time.

Engineers have also introduced a more robust, four-disc clutch, along with an automatic engine restart function, which activates as soon as the driver depresses the clutch pedal after a stall.

Visually, a redesigned front end reflects the design of the Type 992.2 generation of the 911 GT3 road car, with a spoiler lip that is now made up of three separate parts, allowing only the damaged sections to be replaced after contact.

Along the same lines, the daytime running lights present on the current version of the car have also been removed, meaning they can no longer damage the radiators behind them or require replacement in the event of a collision.

Also new are the introduction of integrated louvre vents on the top of the front fenders, which, along with the new turning vanes behind the front wheel arches, improve airflow along the front end of the car.

At the rear, a complete redesign has seen the introduction of a revised connection to the wing supports making for easier position adjustment and handling, while the engine cover has also been reworked.

The braking system has also received a comprehensive upgrade, with 380-millimeter discs on the front axle that feature an increased cross section of 35 millimeters. This allows for larger cooling channels.

The outer diameter of the brake disc hat has also been reduced, increasing the friction surface between the disc and brake pad and thus resulting in more efficient deceleration. All 911 Cup cars will also be fitted with the Bosch M5 racing ABS system.

The car has also been given a resigned multifunction steering wheel, while the central control panel has had the number of physical switches increased from eight to ten. Additional foam padding on the inside of the door crossbar offers extra protection for the driver’s arms, legs, and feet.

Testing for the 911 Cup was carried out at Porsche’s in-house facility in Weissach, as well as at Monza and the Lausitzring, with Bastian Buus, Laurin Heinrich, Klaus Bachler and Marco Seefried contributing to development.

“Like its successful predecessors, the new 911 Cup pushes boundaries. It combines series components from our GT sports cars with pure racing technology to create a coherent and performance-based overall concept,” said Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President Porsche Motorsport.

“Driving the 911 Cup has always been regarded as a challenge. And we want to keep it that way because it also serves as the training platform for our Porsche Juniors.

“The success of this concept is evident in its countless race and championship victories.”