New Porsche 911 Cup (992.2): Faster, Smarter, 2026 Debut
Porsche unveils the new 911 Cup, the latest evolution of its one-make cup racing car for the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, the various Carrera Cup championships and other Porsche-sanctioned series. The model lines up on the grid from the start of the 2026 season and arrives in Carrera Cup GB for 2027. Based on the 992.2 generation 911, it brings more power, quicker lap times and simplified handling while keeping operating costs in check. The naturally aspirated 4.0-litre six-cylinder boxer now delivers 520 PS (382 kW), up ten horsepower. Porsche prices the new racing car at €269,000, excluding country-specific VAT, and will build it on the main Zuffenhausen production line.
Porsche streamlines its customer-racing naming by officially calling the new model the 911 Cup. From now on, only cars for open-brand series or specific segments carry the ‘GT’ suffix with a number, as with the new evolution of the 911 GT3 R, which also debuts today. The 911 Cup draws heavily from road-approved 911 GT models and shares the series-production line in Zuffenhausen. Since production began at the end of 2020, Porsche Motorsport has built 1,130 units of the current 911 GT3 Cup, contributing to a total of 5,381 Porsche 911 one-make racing cars produced to date.
“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,” emphasises 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.”
Michael Dreiser, Director Sales Porsche Motorsport, says: “The Cup race car based on the 911 is one of the best-selling racing cars in the world. Alongside the 718 GT4 RS Clubsport, it forms the demanding basis of our motorsport pyramid and is used globally in our one-make cup series. But its success extends far beyond that: the secret lies in its versatility. Cup cars regularly achieve strong overall results in endurance races, open GT competitions, and a myriad of other racing events.”
The 911 Cup adopts a 992.2-style 911 GT3 front end with a three-piece front spoiler lip, so teams can replace only damaged sections and cut packaging and shipping costs for spares. Porsche removes the daytime running lights to prevent radiator damage in minor contacts and avoid unnecessary replacements. Integrated louvre vents in the wheel arches aid airflow and increase front-axle downforce. At the same time, an aerodynamically optimised underbody, as in the standard 911, sharpens driving dynamics and turning vanes behind the front arches further clean up airflow. Together, these elements deliver a more responsive front axle at high speed, helping the driver place the race car with greater precision into every corner.
Porsche redesigns the rear comprehensively. A more aggressive tail incorporates a swan-neck rear wing with revised mounting points that simplify adjustment and handling. Engineers rework the engine cover and, like almost all body panels—including the doors—manufacture it from recycled carbon-fibre fleece combined with bio-based epoxy resin. They repurpose off-cuts from other processes to create the fleece, a change that also helps stabilise spare-parts pricing.
The water-cooled, high-revving 4.0-litre flat-six stays naturally aspirated and remains closely related to the 911 GT3 series power unit. In racing trim, it now produces 520 PS (382 kW) thanks to additional series-derived components, including flow-optimised individual throttle valves and camshafts with extended valve opening times. This setup eliminates the central throttle valve and allows an air restrictor to be fitted, meeting rules in other championships. Despite the power gain, Porsche keeps the service interval unchanged: the engine requires an overhaul only after 100 hours of track time. To suit varying circuit noise limits, three exhaust systems are available.
A more robust four-disc sintered-metal racing clutch now transmits power to the sequential six-speed dog gearbox. The upgrade permits higher launch rpm—previously capped at 6,500 rpm for standing starts—enhancing the acoustic drama at lights-out. An automatic engine restart triggers as soon as the driver depresses the clutch after an accidental stall. A new stroboscope function for the brake lights warns following drivers, particularly at race starts, replacing the previous hazard-light solution.
Porsche re-engineers the braking system for performance and durability. The front axle gains 380 mm discs whose cross-section increases from 32 to 35 mm, creating larger cooling channels for self-ventilation and better heat dissipation. By relocating the central water cooler to the rear of the boot, the team routes cooling air through the central front section directly to the brakes. A reduced outer disc diameter increases the friction interface with wider pads, improving deceleration, long-distance stamina and overall component life. Porsche also enlarges the brake fluid reservoir for endurance use.
The Bosch M5 racing ABS now comes ex-works on all 911 Cup cars. Enhanced data processing interprets inputs from a new acceleration sensor with additional signal detection, and advanced software can alert the driver to a leak in either brake circuit. Adjusted steering stops let the electronically assisted power steering achieve a tighter turning radius for easier manoeuvring through narrow city streets. In contrast, increased steering lock helps drivers counter oversteer more effectively.
Inside, a redesigned, higher-quality multifunction steering wheel blends cleaner design with tangible gains. Central rotary controls now adjust ABS intervention and traction control, and newly designed colour-illuminated buttons improve label readability. The central control panel beside the seat remains easy to reach in the heat of competition, but now uses eight physical switches instead of ten. The bottom-right button opens an extra display page that lets drivers set pit-lane speed, exhaust mapping and steering-angle reset from the cockpit, reducing laptop hookups and simplifying pit procedures. Added foam padding on the inside of the door crossbar offers extra protection for arms, legs and feet.
Matthias Scholz, Director GT Racing Cars, explains: “The new 911 Cup stands out thanks to the extensive attention to detail that has gone into its development. It is stronger, faster, yet also more practical. Component service life remains unchanged – in some cases even extended – despite the increase in performance. Where appropriate, materials have been replaced with components containing a high proportion of recycled materials. Cockpit operations have been optimised, and a range of additional electronic features allows for broader application across different racing formats.”
Upgraded electronics further improve drivability. The TPMS now shows tyre-air temperatures on the central dashboard display. A much more powerful GPS antenna replaces the previous infrared system and takes over lap-time and position tracking. Proven features from the 911 GT3 R transfer across, including pit-lane passage timing and the “pre-kill” function, which automatically switches off the engine when the car comes to a standstill during pit stops. A new electronic monitor checks the charge level of the fire-extinguisher release unit’s self-contained nine-volt battery.
Porsche again partners with Michelin to develop a new generation of tyres for its one-make cup car. The development team conducted real-world tests at Monza, the Lausitzring in Brandenburg and Porsche’s Weissach Development Centre. Former Porsche Juniors Bastian Buus, Laurin Heinrich and Klaus Bachler joined seasoned racer Marco Seefried behind the wheel. The result aims squarely at faster lap times, more straightforward setup and repeatable performance for teams across the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, Carrera Cup GB and other Porsche racing series.
