Porsche Mission R: The Future of GT Racing
Sporting a fresh and distinctive design with innovation in every detail, Mission R is the all-electric replacement to the iconic Porsche Cup car.
Porsche in recent years has presented us with their most interesting and captivating ideas via their “Mission” concept studies. The first was the Mission E concept back in 2015, which would eventually become the pioneering Taycan model. Welcome to the Mission R.
From the get-go, the Mission E was designed to be a vehicle for general consumers and the public road. However, the German powerhouse founded with an unmistakable passion for racing has not lost its way.
As many of us know, Porsche has nurtured an unmistakable customer racing program. Throughout decades of constant competition and innovation, the Porsche Cup car has become a bona fide mainstay in modern motorsport.
In ever-changing environment that is 2021, the quest for innovation has not staled, but rather accelerated even greater. Porsche has responded with this ground-breaking case study we now know as the Mission R. Let’s take a deeper dive.
Porsche’s Vision of All-Electric Motorsports
Why has the Porsche Cup car has managed to maintain a successful racing series for the last 31 years? Because of its design: timeless, efficient, and effective.
Oliver Blume, Porsche Executive Board Chairman, states, “The Mission R embodies everything that makes Porsche strong: performance, design and sustainability.” This is the continuation of that tradition of success.
If the Mission R is any indication of the future of sports car racing, we have to say so far so good. This new racer is capable of the same lap times as the current 992-based GT3 Cup solely using electric power.
The all-wheel drive system generate power up to 1,070 HP in a qualifying mode, with vicious 0-to-60 times in less than 2.5 seconds. Constant output in race mode is about 671 HP in comparison, quite a bit more than a standard GT3 car offers.
Not to mention, a serious top-speed of 186 mph, a number not usually seen in GT3-spec racing cars. All of this possible due to brand new motors and cells with an innovative oil cooling system to prevent power reduction due to thermal conditions.
State-of-the-Art Tech, Sustainable Materials
However, the engineering developments did not stop there. The 900-volt battery technology combined with Porsche’s Turbo Charging allows for charging of the Mission R from 5 percent to 80 percent charge in just 15 minutes stop time.
The wild aerodynamic package of the wing and front nose offer some active features, such as DRS (Drag Reduction System), just like in top-tier motorsport such as Le Mans Prototype and Formula 1.
The chassis itself is constructed of a natural fiber reinforced plastic known as NFRP, which is made from flax. The sustainable material is extensively used in the interior as well from the door panels to the seats.
As opposed to a traditional metal roll cage, the safety structure is composed of carbon fiber composite. This has been dubbed by Porsche engineers as the “exoskeleton.” We think its a win-win that it can look that captivating while keeping the driver safe.
Shorter in length and height than a 718 Cayman, but massively wider, this low-slung Cup car concept is honestly stunning to look at it. We would love to see it go head to head with a current-gen GT3 Cup.
Not only would this demonstrate the strength of its forward-thinking innovations, but simultaneously give us something recognizable to visually benchmark. Let’s see it heat up some tires!
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