At the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, Porsche unveiled the 911 GT3 R Hybrid with an innovative hybrid drive, marking a new milestone in Porsche’s history, which boasts over 20,000 racing victories in 45 years with the 911.
This hybrid technology, developed specifically for racing, is notably different from conventional hybrid systems in both configuration and components. The car features an electrical front axle drive with two electric motors, each producing 60 kW, supplementing the 480-bhp four-liter flat-six engine at the rear of the 911 GT3 R Hybrid.
A key innovation is the use of an electrical flywheel power generator, positioned inside the car next to the driver, to supply energy to the electric motors, replacing the usual batteries found in hybrid road cars.
Fourteen years later, CAR magazine’s James Dennison takes it for a drive at the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed to examine just how far Porsche’s hybrid technology has progressed over the past decade and a half.
