911 GT3 R Hybrid (Germany, 2010)

Porsche has unveiled the first pictures of its newest and first hybrid racing car: the 911 GT3 R Hybrid. The new sports car will have its official presentation at next month’s Geneva Motor Show just before it makes its racing debut at the Nürburgring 24 Hours on May 15th and 16th.

The hybrid technology featured in this version, based on the 911 GT3 R, has been developed especially for racing and is different from conventional hybrid systems in terms of configuration and components. The hybrid version is equipped with a 480-bhp four-litre flat-six at the rear that is supplemented by two electric motors, in the front axle drive, each developing 60kW. Another feature of the 911 GT3 R Hybrid is that it has an electrical flywheel power generator located in the interior next to the driver that delivers energy to the electric motors, instead of the common batteries.

This flywheel generator is itself an electric motor that can store energy mechanically whenever the driver uses the brakes. When this happens the two electric motors located on the front axle act as generators. This energy can be used by a driver for example to accelerate out of a bend or to overtake. According to Porsche “the driver is able to call up extra energy from the charged flywheel generator, the flywheel being slowed down electromagnetically in the generator mode and thus supplying up to 120 kW to the two electric motors at the front from its kinetic energy”.