The Porsche 911 Is Going GT4 RacingPorscheSince the inception of the GT4 rule set in the mid 2000s, Porsche has been represented in the popular global class by a Cayman or 718 of some sort. This option was so popular for teams that it eventually spawned a Cayman and 718 GT4 road car, but the demise of the lesser internal-combustion sports car has left Porsche without a road-relevant machine to race in the GT4 class.Fortunately, it has a legend on the bench ready to come in and pinch hit.This is the 911 GT4 R, a new model joining the 911 racing family for the first time. As the name implies, it is a 911 built for the GT4 racing rule set. That slots it a class lower than the GT3 R that competes in marquee endurance races at Le Mans, Daytona, and the Nürburgring, putting it more in line with the 911 Cup spec racer revealed back in August of last year.PorscheMax output is identical to the 911 Cup with which it shares its naturally aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six, at 512 horsepower. (GT4 rules generally dictate power restrictions decided on a series-by-series basis to level out a playing field that could include a dozen manufacturers.) The power similarity is no coincidence, either; Porsche says that the 911 GT4 R "builds on the technical foundation of the current 911 Cup." In delivery form, the car comes with an air restrictor that brings it down to a more typical GT4-class output of 424 hp.AdvertisementAdvertisementSince the GT4 class has some specific regulations absent from spec racers, there are a few other differences from the 911 Cup. Not only are wheels one inch narrower, they're mounted with a typical five-lug pattern rather than the center-locking setup seen on the car designed for Carrera Cup racing. The adjustable rear wing is lower, and more subtle, too.PorscheThe GT4 lap record at Laguna Seca is five seconds off the best lap ever put in by a 911 Cup car, and eight seconds off the GT3 record. Those times are impacted somewhat by tire and Balance of Performance differences, but you can expect a broadly similar gap between the GT4 R in racing form and its two existing racing relatives.Expect to see the 911 GT4 R racing in IMSA's Michelin Pilot Challenge, SRO's GT4 America, and dozens of other series across the world in the years to come. Porsche says that it has built more than 1500 Cayman-based racers over the years, so the 911 GT4 R should be produced in fairly high volumes over its lifetime. If you want one, it'll cost you $375,500 here in the U.S., but that includes import and delivery.You Might Also LikeIf You Can Only Own One Car, Make It One of TheseThese Are the Most Popular Cars by State