With the announcement yesterday of the specification of the new-for-2026 Porsche 911 Cup, the bloodline of the world’s most successful series of one-make GT racers reaches an eighth generation.
5281 cars have now been built for one-make and wider competition with the technological progression over a now 35 year history a true window on the world of advancing technologies and capabilities at the top end of the automotive marketplace.
The 2026 911 Cup boasts almost exactly double the power output (520 PS against 265 PS) of the very first, 1990-spec. Porsche Carrera 2 Cup with many of the other aspects of the performance of the car in terms of braking, dynamics and aero, if anything showing even more impressive advancement over the intervening three and a half decades.
So lets take a look at that bloodline, and the progression made.
1990 Porsche Carrera 2 Cup
Base model: Porsche 911 Carrera RS
Debut: 1990 (Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland)
Displacement: 3.6 litres
Power output: 195 kW (265 PS) to 202 kW (275 PS)
Units built: 297
The 1990 Porsche Carrera Cup was based on the 964 platform, and had, by modern standards, very little done to convert the car for competition.
The car was created for the then new Porsche Carrera Cup Germany, a successor series to the Porsche 944 Turbo Cup that ran from 1986-89.
Just 50 examples were built of the car for the inaugural 1990 season. Whilst the car saw only a 15 bhp increase in output over the standard 964 Carrera RS road car (up to a heady 260 bhp), the parallel weight reduction process was more extreme, some 250 kg taken out of the car despite fitment of a roll cage. The mechanical and electronic upgrades included a blueprinted engine, competition ECU, lightened flywheel and racing clutch.
With mild upgrades the 964-based car saw service through to 1993 with the German Series joined by a new French Series and, in 1993, the first Formula One-supporting Porsche Supercup. By this point the production total for the ‘Cup’ had reached over 170 cars.
1994 Porsche 911 Cup (993) 3.8
Base model: Porsche 911 Carrera RS
Debut: 1994 (Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland)
Displacement: 3.8 litres
Power output: 228 kW (310 PS) to 232 kW (315 PS)
Units built: 186
1994 saw the debut of the Porsche 911 Cup 3.8, based around the then-current 993 platform, the last of the air-cooled 911s. The cars saw service in Supercup for four seasons.
They debuted with 306 BHP, later upped to 311 bhp with production of the Type 993 racers reaching 216 cars.
1998 911 GT3 Cup (Type 996)
Base model: Porsche 911 GT3
Debut: 1998 (Porsche Supercup)
Displacement: 3.6 litres
Power output: 265 kW (360 PS) to 287 kW (390 PS)
Units built: 873 (996 & 996 II)
Raced in the Porsche Supercup seasons 1998–2001 with a 360 bhp 3.6 litre boxer engine based on the block of the 911 GT1.
For the 1999 season engine output was increased to 272 kW (370 PS; 365 bhp) and 370 N⋅m (273 lbf⋅ft) at 6,250 rpm. For the 2001 season the GT3 Cup received modified aerodynamics including an enlarged rear wing and improved cooling.
2002 911 GT3 Cup (Type 996 II)
Raced in the Porsche Supercup seasons 2002–2004.
For 2002 the GT3 Cup received several changes based on the 996.2 Carrera and Turbo models, including Turbo-style headlights. The new body brought improvements to both aerodynamics and cooling.
Once again engine power output was increased – 280 kW (381 PS; 375 bhp) and 380 N⋅m (280 lbf⋅ft), with the new car also featuring improved transmission cooling and a lightened exhaust system.
For the car’s final front-line season in 2004 there were further upgrades. Engine output up to to 287 kW (390 PS; 385 bhp) at 7,200 rpm and 390 N⋅m (288 lbf⋅ft) at 6,500 rpm. Revised gear ratios saw fourth, fifth and sixth gears shortened. An 89-litre fuel tank was the first factory nod to a potential life in endurance racing capabilities.
And this was the first ‘Cup’ car with interior changes made to enable the use of the HANS device.
2005 911 GT3 Cup (Type 997)
Base model: Porsche 911 GT3 and GT3 RS
Debut: 2005 (Porsche Supercup)
Displacement: 3.6 – 3.8 litres
Power output: 294 kW (400 PS) to 331 kW (450 PS)
Units built: 1,485 including 997 II
Raced in the Porsche Supercup seasons 2005–2009.
The 997-based Cup car featured significantly improved aerodynamics and lightweight CFRP parts, including doors, rear body panels, engine deck lid and rear wing. Parts of the suspension were adopted from the GT3 RSR.
2010 911 GT3 Cup 3.8 (Type 997 II)
Raced in the Porsche Supercup seasons 2010–2012.
Based on 997.2 GT3 RS, the car featured a new 3.8 litre engine, an enlarged rear wing, additional Unibal joints on the track control arms and front and rear sword-shaped anti-roll bars with seven position settings each.
This was the first 911 GT3 Cup car with a steering wheel mounted information display!
2013 911 GT3 Cup (Type 991)
Base model: Porsche 911 GT3 Cup
Debut: 2013 (Porsche Supercup)
Displacement: 3.8 litres
Power output: 338 kW (460 PS)
Units built: 673
Raced in the Porsche Supercup for the seasons 2013–2016.
Based on the Porsche 911 GT3 type 991, the first Porsche 911 GT3 Cup to feature gearbox paddle-shifters.
2017 911 GT3 Cup (Type 991 II)
Base model: Porsche 911 GT3 Cup
Debut: 2017 (Porsche Supercup)
Displacement: 4.0 litres
Power output: 357 kW (485 PS)
Units built: 737
Raced in the Porsche Supercup from 2017 – 2020.
Based on the then updated 911 GT3 road car it featured a larger 4.0-litre flat-six boxer engine, improved aerodynamics and added the FIA enlarged extraction-hatch in the roof.
2021 911 GT3 Cup (Type 992)
Base model: Porsche 911 GT3 Cup
Debut: 2021 (Porsche Supercup)
Displacement: 4.0 litres
Power output: 375 kW (510 PS)
Units built: 1100+
The 2021 Cup car, the seventh generation, was the first Porsche racer based around the Type 992 911 and was also the first Cup racer to feature a wide turbo-spec body.
The car retained the same basic engine as its predecessor but with power output increased from 485 to 510 bhp (362 to 380 kW; 492 to 517 PS). The new car is also tuned to run on synthetic fuels
The body of the previous 991.2 generation Cup car consisted of 70 per cent steel and 30 per cent aluminium. The ratio in the 2021 car has been switched.
2026 911 Cup
Base model: Porsche 911 Cup
Debut: 2026 (Porsche Supercup)
Displacement: 4.0 litres
Power output: 520 PS (382 kW)
Set for introduction from the beginning of next season the 2026 911 Cup is based on the 992.2 base car and is set to be the very first of the one-make racers to be produced alongside Porsche’s road cars at its main Zuffenhausen plant.
