RaceRoom Racing Experience News

Faster, fitter, stronger: these words sum up the latest 992-shape version of Porsche’s incredibly popular 911 GT3 Cup, which is one of a trio of cars starring in our new 2023 Porsche racing pack that’s due for release in two weeks time. It’s the seventh-generation 911 Cup weapon and incorporates revolutionary changes into what’s been an evolutionary range of race cars – but without going against the fundamental principle of being, at its heart, a stripped-back road-car. Luckily, Porsche have a very fast, very efficient road-car to start with…



The story started back in 1990, with the launch of the original 964 Carrera Cup – the first season was won by a certain Olaf Manthey – and since then the Carrera Cup has become a breeding ground for future champions and factory driver talent just as much as a place where weekend racers get to truly test themselves against the pros. There are now 34 official series around the world, including the halo Supercup that supports Formula 1.



The Carrera Cup is the ultimate one-make challenge: a truly level playing field where the driver makes the difference, using a purist’s racing car that encourages you to push to your limit.



Porsche have now sold over 5,000 Cup cars since 1990, and incredibly they’re still constructed on the regular 911 production line: it’s basically just a build option! The road-legal GT3 and GT3 Cup racecar share many technical components, and the six-cylinder, four-litre boxer engine is virtually identical, with the addition of a racing exhaust and an optimised ECU. The power output is the same, at 510PS, so the expectation is that the engine doesn’t need serious servicing for an entire season of racing! And it runs on synthetic fuels. The GT3 Cup uses a widened body from the 911 Turbo model, with an adjustable lip spoiler and 11-point rear wing on swan-neck mounts.



The new 992-shape GT3 Cup is a huge step forwards compared to the previous generation. It’s much closer to the new GT3 R in behaviour, and in fact it's now much more advanced than the GT3 R of only a few generations back. Its double-wishbone front axle means the toe at the front is wider than the rear for the first time. Aesthetically, it’s also just as aggressive as the GT3 R: squint and they’re tough to tell apart, which could be useful if you’re harrying a slower GT3 in a mixed-class race!



There’s still no ABS in Cup spec, so a good braking technique is paramount, and no traction control means having to finesse with your right foot. However, owners who wish to race it in other series can opt to have the addition of Porsche Motorsport’s factory-prepared ABS and Traction Control systems. This is the spec that’s used in events such as the 24H Series or NLS, and we’ve created this option with the Endurance-spec GT3 Cup car that’s also included in this pack.



Using the standard 911 GT3 Cup model, we’re proudly presenting the official grid of the 2023 Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland, with over 30 authentic liveries. Then with the Endurance-spec car, with ABS and TC active, you’ll get another batch liveries from global endurance series; this car will be perfect to add into multi-class races to deliver the range of performances on track that’s the core of GT endurance racing.



Adding the latest 992-shape Cup car to RaceRoom further bolsters our Porsche Carrera Cup content: you can already experience the 964 and 991 models in the game. It’s a fantastic car to drive: challenging but rewarding, and it sits towards the top of the performance envelope:. It’s a car to build up to, and will take some effort to get the best out of, particularly in the raw Cup spec with no driver aids. But that’s also where the enjoyment will come: whether you’re pounding round a track on your own, refining your performance and set-up, or going straight into racing, the 911 GT3 Cup will deliver you a proper racing experience.



RaceRoom’s 2023 Porsche racing pack is due to launch on July 20th, and later in the week we’ll be previewing the third car in the pack: the mighty GT3 R.

Today we are introducing Porsche’s 944 Turbo Cup racer from 1987, part of a trio of iconic Porsches that we’re releasing together in Raceroom this month. When you think of a Porsche, most would immediately turn to the iconic 911, with its recognisable lineage that stretches back from the current 992 shape to the original model in 1964. But in the mid-1970s Porsche released a brace of models from the left-field: the 924 and its beefier cousin the 928. Water cooling? The engine at the front? Four seats? A coupé? Heresy, surely?



There was a precedent in going off-piste: specifically the targa-topped 914 that was launched at the turn of the ‘70s and saw success both on the road and on track – particularly in the USA – and also looked nothing like a ‘real’ Porsche. But it performed like one, felt like one – and sold more than the 911 ever did. This same approach was taken with the 924, with the same result: a less raw experience, but a Porsche experience nonetheless. An evolution of the 924, the 944 roared into view in 1982 and sold even more units – it was actually the highest selling Porsche model until the introduction of the Boxster.



Free of the restrictions of the 911 platform (glorious and unique though it is), the 944 delivered a stable, quick GT platform for the road and track that was more accessible, practical – and cheaper. The turbocharged variant came online in 1986, the basis for the 1987 Cup model you’ll be driving.



Setting the precedent for Porsche’s future Carrera Cup models, the 944 Cup was a lightly modified production car, gaining race suspension and brakes, a roll-cage, magnesium wheels and ABS while throwing out all the unnecessary road-going comforts to shed almost 300kg of dead weight.



The 1987 model was up-gunned from the previous year, a new KKK turbocharger boosting power to 246hp from the original 217hp version, and the axles were widened for a more stable stance. The platform was always well-balanced, delivering an almost perfect 50/50 weight distribution.



Ironically, the 944’s ‘aero’ produces almost no net downforce, so the car can be a bit light at high speed – which is something to watch out for. The tyres are also fairly skinny and the car is softly sprung, so at lower speed mechanical grip isn't massive. Balancing against these traits, the car is very progressive and communicate with what’s going on, allowing drivers to really get the feel of what’s happening beneath them.



All in all, this is a racing car that delivers proper fun and driving pleasure while being a sensible challenge, and in the context of its one-make series will really allow you to gauge your performance. We’ve recreated 22 classic liveries from the period, which deliver a touch of retro style: our art team have done a great job bringing them to life. The car will also play well in multi-class races using cars from around the same era: throw yourself in at the deep-end with some fearsome Group Cs to deal with (in terms of being lapped!), or put yourself up against some of our IMSA GTO or Touring Classics as opposition.



Next up we’ll be previewing the two modern machines that are included in our Porsche Pack release, due later in July: the 992-shape 911 GT3 Cup and GT3 R.

Our latest collaboration with Porsche Motorsports brings our content right up to date, whilst also reaching back in time to include a quirky classic in the Porsche pantheon. We’re thrilled to deliver you into the cockpits of the latest 992-shaped 911 GT3 R and 911 GT3 Cup cars plus the legendary 944 Cup!



GT3 continues its march to world domination: there are now series all over the world, and next year the GT class at the Le Mans 24 Hours will comprise GT3s as part of the regs change in the World Endurance Championship. The class is also a mainstay of sim racing – and Raceroom already has one of the strongest GT3 offerings out there, covering cars going right back to the first generation. But, this is about now: so the core of this release is the mighty 992-shape 911 GT3 R, which has already been racking up wins in the DTM and other major championships – and a record 14 GT3 Rs will compete in this weekend’s prestigious 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. We’ve cherry-picked the best liveries from global series for you to use to take on the opposing GT3 hordes.



Next up we continue our official relationship with the Porsche Carrera Cup by presenting the grid of the 2023 Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland. With a bumper grid of over 30 cars (and with the majority of the tracks on this year’s schedule already in Raceroom), you can recreate the frantic racing of this one-make Cup, featuring cars which are arguably more challenging than the GT3 model. With no ABS or traction control allowed, your braking technique and throttle control will be at a premium – there’ll be no just mashing the pedals and hoping the electronics sort it out.



Aesthetically there’s not much between it and the GT3 R – and in fact the raw specifications of the new Cup car even exceed last-gen GT3. It’s wide, low and brutal: a massive leap on from the 991-shape Cup car and truly a challenging racer to master. As well as the official ‘sprint’ version, we’re also including an ‘endurance’ spec model with more authentic liveries, which will allow the use of ABS and Porsche Motorsports Traction Control; this model is typically seen in 24H Series long-distance events or at the Nürbgurgring in NLS races.



Book-ending the contemporary Carrera Cup model is the 944 Turbo Cup. This front-engined GT was almost seen as heretical when it was launched back in 1982, but quickly gained a great reputation and in period actually became Porsche’s most successful car in terms of sales. It was born to race, and competed at Le Mans the year before its official launch (badged as a 924 GTP). Five national 944 Turbo Cup series were launched in the mid-‘80s, and it served as the successful forerunner of the Carrera Cup that started in the following decade. We’ve modelled the 1987 car, which puts out more power via a new KKK turbocharger and features a wider track and ABS.



We’ll be going into more detail on each new Porsche over the coming week as we build to a July launch. Stay tuned – and in the meantime keep enjoying Raceroom’s Summer Sale!

Dive into the Raceroom Summer Sale!


Fresh off the back of Raceroom’s Free Access period comes our Summer Sale blow-out, where you can pick up all Raceroom content at very special prices.



Raceroom has an incredible amount of licensed content to choose from, with almost 200 cars taken from across the history of motorsport. From cutting-edge prototypes and GTs back to legendary racers of of the ‘70s, via a veritable dictionary of touring cars, single seaters and racing classics, whatever your motorsport passion Raceroom has you covered. We pride ourselves on the quality of our physics and force feedback, and Raceroom has daily competitions and esports events to test your skills.



Our close relationship with both the DTM and World Touring Cars means that in Raceroom you can build your own offline championships and aspire to become a multiple champion across consecutive seasons. We’ve got official touring car grids stretching back to 2013, and DTM racers from all generations of that prestigious series: the current GT3 spec, the fearsome silhouette era of the 2000s and souped-up saloons of the ‘90s.



You’ve then got over 60 tracks to choose from, from regulars of the F1 calendar to challenging national speedbowls. The list includes absolute legends, such as the Nürburgring Nordshleife, Bathurst and Macau, and each track will take time – and patience! – to master. As with our cars, the tracks are also available in packs.



Our curated packs are a fantastic way to get started in Raceroom. The Starter Pack does exactly what it says on the tin; step up to to the Pro Pack for a fuller, wider-ranging experience. And then if you just want everything, the Premium Pack is for you: it contains every single car and track currently in the game.



Individual cars and tracks are all discounted by 50%, and all combined packs have 25% off. It’s the perfect time to complete your collection if you’ve already competed in Raceroom or to begin your journey if you’re looking for a whole new racing experience. Alongside sim-racing standards, you’ll discover a world of exciting, exclusive content that you may not have tried before.



The Raceroom Summer Sale runs through until the end of the day of July 13th.

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